Advanced Search

Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Bill Immunostains Per Antibody

Published on Sat Jun 12, 2010

Question: Should we bill a prostate triple stain as 88342 or 88342 x 3?Florida SubscriberAnswer: You should list the service as 88342 x 3 (Immunohistochemistry [including tissue immunoperoxidase], each anibody).Reasoning: The unit of service for 88342 immunostains is the "antibody," and the prostate triple stain (also called PIN4) contains three antibodies. For instance the stain typically uses p504S (also called AMCAR), p63, and CK903 (a highmolecular weight cytokeratin). Each of the three stains provides unique diagnostic information, as opposed to "mixing" to form a single diagnostic entity.For instance: The p504 stains cytoplasm red in prostate adenocarcinoma, while p63 stains basal cell nuclei brown in benign prostate glands or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). The high molecular weight cytokeratin also helps identify basal cells in benign and PIN specimens by staining the cytoplasm brown.Best documentation: To support reporting 88342 x 3, the pathologist should mention the diagnostic contribution of each stain in [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

View All