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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Watch for CBC Components

Published on Sun Aug 19, 2007

Question: A physician orders RBC, WBC and platelet count, which the lab performs on an automated system. Should we use a CBC code for this work? Wisconsin Subscriber Answer: A complete blood count (CBC) includes hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelet count, and perhaps a differential WBC count. Because the physician does not request all the components of a CBC, you can't use the code for a CBC without differential (85027, Blood count; complete [CBC], automated [Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC and platelet count]). Do this: Instead, you-ll have to use the separate codes for the individual components. Because the lab uses an automated system, you should report these codes: 85041 (Blood count; red blood cell [RBC], automated), 85048 (... leukocyte [WBC], automated) and 85049 (... platelet, automated).
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