Microbiology Streptococcus Group A Testing, 86588, 87880 (Q&A) (December 1998)

December 1998 page 8 Coding Consultation Microbiology Streptococcus Group A Testing, 86588, 87880 (Q&A) Question Which code should I report for "strep" testing performed in an office setting? AMA Comment We have received many inquiries requesting clarification of code 87880 , Infectious agent detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Streptococcus Group A, and code 86588 , Streptococcus, screen, direct. Code 87880 (direct observation) should be used for all immunologically-based commercial Streptococcus Group A testing kits whose interpretation rely on a visual reaction (observed by the naked eye). Other methodologies should be coded accordingly. Currently, Code 86588 should be reported...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article is a short coding consultation from CPT Assistant focused on microbiology testing for streptococcal screening in an office setting. It summarizes AMA commentary relevant to CPT code selection for group A and non-group A streptococcal screening and helps coders understand the scope of the discussion without replacing the underlying guidance.

Why This Topic Matters

This matters to coders, billing staff, and compliance teams that need to recognize which CPT microbiology testing codes are being discussed in the context of office-based strep testing. It also helps readers identify that the article is a targeted Q&A with limited scope rather than a broad clinical review.

What You Will Learn

  • The article’s coding topic and clinical testing context.
  • Which CPT microbiology codes are discussed in relation to streptococcal screening.
  • How the AMA framed the coding clarification in a Q&A format.
  • The general focus of the guidance on office-based testing.

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Billing specialists
  • Compliance staff
  • Clinical office staff
  • Revenue cycle teams

Codes Discussed


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