Pathology and Laboratory, 88313, 87177 (Q&A) (November 2003)
November 2003 page 15a
Coding Consultation:Questions and Answers
Pathology and Laboratory, 88313, 87177 (Q&A)
Question
What code should be reported in addition to code 87177, Ova and parasites, direct smears, concentration and
identification, for a parasite study on a stool specimen when a trichrome stain is
also performed?
AMA Comment
Add-on code 88313, Special
stains (List separately in addition to code for primary service); Group II, all other, (eg,
iron, trichrome), except immunocytochemistry and immunoperoxidase stains, each,
should be reported in addition to code 87177 for the trichrome stain
performed during the parasite study.
Pathology and Laboratory, 88313...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This brief CPT Assistant coding consultation addresses a pathology and laboratory billing scenario involving stool specimen parasite testing and an additional laboratory stain. It is relevant to coders, pathology/lab billing staff, and compliance reviewers who need to understand the article’s scope before accessing the full guidance. The piece provides a focused question-and-answer format tied to CPT reporting considerations in the laboratory setting.
Why This Topic Matters
Short clinical coding consults like this can affect how pathology and laboratory services are reported and interpreted in a coding workflow. Reviewing the article helps users quickly determine whether the guidance applies to stool parasite studies, stain reporting, and CPT coding questions from this time period.
Article Sections
Coding Consultation: Questions and Answers
A single Q&A item addressing pathology and laboratory coding for a specimen-based testing scenario. The section centers on CPT reporting context and an accompanying AMA comment.
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The article’s coding topic and clinical/laboratory context
How the consultation is structured as a question and AMA comment
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Whether the content is relevant to pathology and laboratory coding workflows
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