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2025 CPT code 88314

Special stain including interpretation and report; histochemical stain on frozen tissue block (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

This code is an add-on code and should be reported in addition to the primary procedure code. It is not for routine stains and should only be used for special histochemical stains performed on frozen tissue blocks. One unit should be reported for each special stain performed on each block.Modifier 59 should be appended to 88314 when performed during Mohs surgery with a non-routine stain.

Modifier 59 may be applicable when used with Mohs surgery codes to indicate a distinct procedural service.

Medical necessity for this code is established when a special histochemical stain is required for rapid diagnosis or intraoperative decision-making during a surgical procedure.The need for a special stain beyond routine stains must be clearly documented.

The pathologist or a qualified healthcare professional performs the technical steps of staining the frozen tissue block and interprets the results, providing a report to the surgeon.

IMPORTANT:(Use 88314 in conjunction with 17311-17315, 88302-88309, 88331, 88332) (Use 0758T in conjunction with 88314 when the digitization of glass microscope slides is performed) (Do not report 88314 with 17311-17315 for routine frozen section stain [eg, hematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue], performed during Mohs surgery. When a nonroutine histochemical stain on frozen tissue during Mohs surgery is utilized, report 88314 with modifier 59) (Report one unit of 88314 for each special stain on each frozen surgical pathology block) (For a special stain performed on frozen tissue section material to identify enzyme constituents, use 88319) (For determinative histochemistry to identify chemical components, use 88313)

In simple words: This code covers the lab work involved in performing a special stain on a frozen tissue sample during a surgical procedure. This allows for quick analysis of the tissue, and the results can guide the surgeon's decisions during the operation. It's billed in addition to the main surgical procedure and is not used for routine staining methods.

This code represents a histochemical stain performed on a frozen tissue block, including interpretation and report. It is used for special stains performed during surgical procedures when rapid diagnosis is required.It should be reported separately in addition to the primary procedure code and is not for routine stains like hematoxylin and eosin. Report one unit of 88314 for each special stain performed on each separate frozen surgical pathology block.

Example 1: During a surgical procedure to remove a suspected cancerous lesion, a frozen section of the tissue is prepared and stained using a special histochemical stain to quickly determine the margins of the lesion. This information helps the surgeon determine if additional tissue needs to be removed., A patient undergoes a muscle biopsy. A frozen section of the muscle tissue is stained with a special stain to assess for the presence of certain microorganisms or abnormal deposits., In Mohs surgery, a non-routine histochemical stain is applied to frozen tissue sections to help identify specific features that are not visible with routine stains. This helps ensure complete removal of the cancerous tissue.

Documentation should include the type of special stain performed, the reason for performing the stain, and the interpretation of the results. The report should be signed by the interpreting pathologist or qualified healthcare professional.For Mohs surgery, the documentation must clearly state that a non-routine stain was used and why it was necessary.

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