Wiki Combination Antibody Staining (88342)

[nellcoe]

Our Antibody Sales Rep is pressuring our ImmunoStain Tech to use a 3 antibody combination on Prostate biopsy specimens. The stain combo is K903/P63/P504S. Can we charge for each antibody even though it is on the same slide. Each antibody has a distinct result (K903 -stains brown on Nuclei; P63 stains brown on Membrane and P504S stains red on cytoplasm). Currently we combine K903/P63 but charge as one; other hospitals in the Pittsburgh area say that 2 charges should be entered and are using the 3 antibody combo and charging x3. Our ImmunoStain Tech doesn't want to use the combination antibody if we cannot charge separately. Thanks for any help.

 

[mannlx]

we also do this stain, and we bill for all three units. According do D. Paget (pathology expert) this would be correct coding since you do get distinct results.

 

[whaleheadking]

Your pathologist will tell you that these three stains render three separate, independent interpretations so they should be reported individually (88342 x3). It's when a single stain adds resonance and clarity to the subsequent ones that the stain isn't separately interpretable or reportable. No problem billing for all elements of a triple stain as long as the results are reported.