2025 CPT code 87077
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Laboratory - Microbiology Procedures Pathology and Laboratory Feed
Definitive identification of each aerobic bacterial isolate requiring additional methods.
Modifiers 59 and 91 are applicable as described above.
Medical necessity for 87077 is established when the clinician needs definitive identification of an aerobic bacterial isolate to guide patient management, particularly in cases of suspected infection where the presumptive identification is insufficient to determine appropriate treatment.
Clinical laboratory personnel are responsible for performing the culture, performing additional tests to achieve definitive identification, and reporting the results to the ordering physician. The ordering physician is responsible for interpreting results in the context of the patient's clinical presentation and determining appropriate treatment.
In simple words: The lab does extra tests to figure out exactly what type of bacteria is in a sample that has already been partially identified. This helps doctors choose the best treatment.
This CPT code reports the definitive identification of each aerobic bacterial isolate from a culture.This procedure follows a presumptive identification (using limited tests like Gram stain, colony morphology, or a few biochemical tests) and requires additional methods, such as biochemical panels or slide cultures, to achieve identification to the genus or species level.Molecular techniques (e.g., nucleic acid sequencing) are separately coded (87140-87158) in addition to 87077.The unit of service is per isolate, regardless of the number of methods used for identification.
Example 1: A patient presents with a suspected pneumonia. A sputum sample is cultured, and presumptive identification suggests a gram-positive coccus. Code 87077 is used after additional testing definitively identifies the organism as Streptococcus pneumoniae., A wound culture from a diabetic patient shows growth of gram-negative bacilli.Presumptive identification is inconclusive. Further testing using 87077 definitively identifies Pseudomonas aeruginosa., A blood culture from a patient with suspected sepsis yields a gram-positive rod. Additional testing (87077) identifies the organism as Bacillus cereus, guiding antibiotic selection.
* Complete patient demographics and relevant medical history.* Specimen source and collection date.* Gram stain results (if performed).* Presumptive identification results.* Results of additional tests used for definitive identification (including specific methods).* Final species-level identification.
** This code should only be reported when definitive identification requires additional methods beyond presumptive identification.Always refer to the most current CPT codebook and payer guidelines for accurate coding and reimbursement.
- Revenue Code: T1F (LAB TESTS - BACTERIAL CULTURES)
- RVU: The relative value units for this code will vary based on geographic location and payer.Consult the appropriate fee schedule for specific values.
- Global Days: Not applicable.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule data is not provided in source material. Contact your local payer for historical fee information.
- Specialties:Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Pathology
- Place of Service:Laboratory