July 2000 page 10a
Coding Consultation
Pathology, Surgical, 88342 (Q&A)
Question
Two immunoperoxidase stains (eg, two distinct antibodies) were prepared on one block of tissue from two separate specimens (ie, four immuno-peroxidase-stained slides were prepared). To code this, should I report code 88342 two or four times?
AMA Comment
CPT code 88342, Immunocytochemistry (including tissue immunoperoxidase), each antibody, may be reported one time for each antibody tested, and would be reported separately for each specimen. In answer to your question, code 88342 should be reported four times.
Pathology, Surgical, 88342 (Q&A). CPT® Assistant. 2000; July 2000 page...
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 surgical pathology coding consultation focused on CPT guidance for reporting immunocytochemistry/tissue immunoperoxidase services in a specific specimen-and-antibody scenario. It is useful for pathology coders, billing staff, and compliance teams who need to understand the scope of the guidance and the coding context addressed in the Q&A.
Why This Topic Matters
Pathology coding often depends on how laboratory work is counted across antibodies and specimens, so this article helps readers understand the type of CPT guidance being discussed in a surgical pathology consultation.
Article Sections
Coding Consultation
A question-and-answer discussion about surgical pathology coding in a specimen-based laboratory scenario. The section frames the coding issue and the associated CPT guidance commentary.
What You Will Learn
The article’s focus within surgical pathology coding consultations
How the discussion is framed around immunocytochemistry and tissue immunoperoxidase services
The kind of CPT guidance addressed in the Q&A format
How specimen- and antibody-related coding questions are presented in pathology articles
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