2025 CPT code 80320
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Laboratory - Definitive Drug Class Procedures Pathology and Laboratory Procedures > Drug Assay Procedures Feed
This code reports definitive drug class procedures for alcohols.Testing may be qualitative, quantitative, or both.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances, such as modifier 59 if multiple specimen types are tested.
Medical necessity for alcohol testing is established based on clinical suspicion of alcohol intoxication, alcohol abuse or dependence, or medicolegal requirements related to accidents, crimes, or other legal situations.
The clinical laboratory analyst is responsible for performing the test, ensuring proper chain of custody if medicolegal, and reporting results. The ordering physician interprets the results within the context of the patient's clinical presentation.
In simple words: The lab test measures or checks for the presence of alcohol in a sample from your body (like blood or urine).It uses special equipment to accurately identify and measure the amount of alcohol.
This CPT code encompasses definitive drug class procedures for alcohols, utilizing methods capable of identifying individual drugs and distinguishing between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers).Acceptable definitive methods include gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), excluding immunoassays and enzymatic methods. The procedure may be qualitative (positive/negative), quantitative (measured amount), or a combination, performed on various specimen types (blood, urine, etc.).Each drug class category, including metabolites (if performed, except stereoisomers), is reported once per date of service.Metabolites not listed in the Definitive Drug Classes Listing may be reported using the parent drug's code.
Example 1: A patient is brought to the emergency room unconscious.The physician orders an alcohol level test to determine the cause of unconsciousness., A patient is involved in a motor vehicle accident.A blood alcohol test is ordered for medicolegal purposes., A patient presents to their physician complaining of alcohol dependence.As part of the assessment and management plan, a blood alcohol concentration test is ordered to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
* Patient identification information* Specimen collection date and time* Specimen type (blood, urine, etc.)* Method of analysis (GC-MS, LC-MS)* Test results (qualitative and/or quantitative)* Chain of custody documentation (if applicable for medicolegal purposes)
** This code is used for definitive testing only. Presumptive testing for alcohol should use code 82077.The selection of the appropriate code depends on the purpose and type of patient results obtained.
- Revenue Code: T1H (LAB TESTS - OTHER (NON-MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE))
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Toxicology, Clinical Chemistry, Forensic Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient and Outpatient), Emergency Room, Laboratory, Correctional Facility