2025 CPT code 81050
Effective Date: N/A Pathology and Laboratory Procedures > Urinalysis Procedures Feed
Measurement of timed urine collection volume.
Modifiers may be applicable to specify additional information about the service, such as 59 (Distinct Procedural Service) if the volume measurement is distinct from other urinalysis procedures performed, 90 (Reference [Outside] Laboratory) if the test is sent to an outside lab, or 91 (Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test) if the test is repeated.
Medical necessity for timed urine collections is dependent on the specific analyte being tested and the clinical indication. The physician's order and supporting documentation should justify the need for a timed collection.
The laboratory analyst is responsible for accurately measuring and recording the volume of the timed urine collection.This includes taking a representative sample for testing and discarding the excess urine.
In simple words: A lab technician measures the amount of urine collected over a specified time, like 24 hours.A small sample is taken for testing, and the rest is thrown away.
This code represents the measurement and recording of urine volume collected over a specific time period.A laboratory professional measures the total volume of urine collected during the timed collection, typically using a volumetric cylinder. An aliquot (representative sample) of the total volume is then transferred to a labeled container for further analyte testing as ordered. The remaining, unneeded urine is discarded appropriately.
Example 1: A patient is asked to collect all urine voided over a 24-hour period to assess kidney function. The lab uses 81050 to report the measurement of the total volume collected., A physician orders a timed urine collection for creatinine clearance testing. The lab measures the volume collected using 81050., Two timed urine collections are performed in a 24 hour period (e.g., one 12-hour collection and another 12-hour collection), 81050 would be reported twice (81050 x 2).
Documentation should include the start and end times of the collection period, the total volume of urine collected, and the specific tests ordered on the urine sample.
** It is important not to confuse this code with urodynamic testing procedures like uroflowmetry (51736, 51741).This code solely represents the measurement of the volume of a timed urine collection, not the uroflowmetry analysis.
- Revenue Code: T1C - LAB TESTS - URINALYSIS
- Specialties:Pathology, Nephrology, Urology
- Place of Service:Independent Laboratory, Office, Outpatient Hospital