Reader Questions:
See if Slide Preparation Stands Alone
Published on Mon Feb 23, 2009
Question: When our lab does Her-2/neu testing for a breast biopsy specimen sent to us by the pathologist who performed the surgical pathology examination, we report 88367 for the test. If we prepare an H&E slide from a paraffin block to evaluate tumor burden as part of the Her-2/neu study, what CPT code can we use? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: You shouldn't separately code for preparing a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slide from a paraffin block as part of the Her-2/neu evaluation. The code for the tumor in situ hybridization (ISH) includes all the steps involved in the morphometric analysis. That means the code you mentioned -- 88367 (Morphometric analysis, in situ hybridization [quantitative or semi-quantitative], each probe; using computer-assisted technology) -- includes the specimen manipulation and slide preparation. The pathologist who sends you the breast biopsy has already prepared and examined H&E slides from the tissue and is not requesting a consultation. [...]
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