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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Use Fecal Lactoferrin for Intestinal Inflammation

Published on Fri Sep 15, 2006

Question: The physician orders tests for fecal lactoferrin levels in a patient with ongoing diarrhea before, during and after treatment. How should we report the tests?


Pennsylvania Subscriber
Answer: CPT 2006 modified fecal lactoferrin coding to specify that existing code 83630 (Lactoferrin, fecal; qualitative) is for a qualitative analysis, and new code 83631 (Lactoferrin, fecal; quantitative) is for quantitative determination.

Because fecal lactoferrin level is an important indicator of intestinal inflammation, a physician may order quantitative fecal lactoferrin for diagnosing inflammatory gastrointestinal disease or monitoring patient response to therapy. Report the test code (83631) for each specimen the physician submits. Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were prepared with the assistance of R. M. Stainton Jr., MD, president of Doctors- Anatomic Pathology Services in Jonesboro, Ark.
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