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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Look for Fat Smear Code

Published on Sun Jan 01, 2006

Question: We sometimes perform a Sudan Black IV stain on a stool smear for fat. I've been told that the proper code is 88313 for the special fat stain, but this is an add-on code. What should we use as the primary specimen code if we're also reporting 88313 for the special stain? 


Colorado Subscriber


Answer: Although CPT now allows you to report a special stain code for stains on sources other than surgical pathology tissue, you should not use +88313 (Special stains [list separately in addition to code for primary service]; Group II, all other [e.g., iron, trichrome], except immunocytochemistry and immunoperoxidase stains, each) for a stool fat stain.

CPT provides a separate code for this procedure. You should report the fecal fat stain using 89125 (Fat stain, feces, urine, or respiratory secretions).
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