AMA CPT® Assistant - 2003 Issue 10 (October)

Microbiology/Pathology and Laboratory (October 2003)

October 2003 page 10a Coding Consultation:Questions and Answers Pathology and Laboratory, 87070, 87147 (Q&A) Question The lab performs a finger wound culture. The sheep blood agar grows a betahemolytic cream colored organism. Based on morphology, the tech performs a catalase () and a Staph latex () The organism is reported as 4 Staphylococcus aureus. What are the appropriate codes to report? AMA Comment Code 87070, Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, is reported for the culture. The catalase test is part of the presumptive identification as indicated...

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CPT® Assistant content is the official source for CPT® coding guidance. It is an instrumental tool when appealing insurance denials and validating coding to auditors. Monthly issues and an extensive archive provide comprehensive guidance on proper CPT® coding for past, present and upcoming code set releases. Archives date back to 1990 for historical use of codes, changes, rationales, coding tips and trends in the industry.

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