here is what I found, and maybe someone who really knows these codes can explain better.
per EncoderPro (emphasis added by me):
| 87801 |
| Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), multiple organisms; amplified probe(s) technique |
Code
87800 reports multiple infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) using direct probe technique. Nucleic acid detection, also referred to as molecular pathology, is a rapidly developing diagnostic technique that is especially useful in identifying microorganisms that require tedious isolation and incubation and/or those that cannot be cultured. Another advantage of molecular methods is that they are able to detect infectious agents at much lower levels than required using other techniques. The test is useful in that absolute specificity of hard-to-identify organisms can be attained. Report
87801 when the multiple DNA target sequences are amplified using any of several techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or ligase chain reaction (LCR), or signal detection (bDNA).
When detecting multiple infectious agents that are not specified by another more specific code, it is appropriate to report these codes. When detecting multiple respiratory viruses in a single test with multiple results, see 87631–87633. When reporting each specific organism nucleic acid detection from a primary source, see 87471–87660. When reporting detection of specific infectious agents that are not otherwise specified, see 87797–87799. Report once for each agent. Molecular pathology procedures (81200–81408) should not be reported in combination with or instead of the infection agent detection by nucleic acid procedures (87471–87801). |
| 87798 |
| Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), not otherwise specified; amplified probe technique, each organism |
This code reports infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA, RNA) amplified probe for microorganisms that are not identified with a more specific code in range
87470-
87652. Nucleic acid detection, also referred to as molecular pathology, is a rapidly developing diagnostic technique that is especially useful in identifying microorganisms which require tedious isolation and incubation and/or those which cannot be cultured. Another advantage of molecular methods is that they are able to detect infectious agents at much lower levels than required using other techniques. Amplified probe involves isolating and identifying the infectious agent DNA or RNA. This involves cell lysis and extraction of the DNA using phenol or chloroform. The nucleic acids are amplified using one of several techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most frequently used amplification technique. Other techniques include ligase chain reaction (LCR) and the signal detection method (bDNA).
These codes report infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA, RNA) direct probe for microorganisms that are not identified with a more specific code in range 87471–87652. Molecular pathology procedures (81200–81408) should not be reported in combination with or instead of the infection agent detection by nucleic acid procedures (87471–87801).
