2025 CPT code 88344
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Laboratory - Surgical Pathology Procedures Pathology and Laboratory Procedures Feed
Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry; each multiplex antibody stain procedure, per specimen.
Modifiers TC (technical component) and 26 (professional component) may be appended depending on the portion of the service billed.Other modifiers may be applicable based on specific circumstances and payer requirements. Always refer to official modifier guidelines.
Medical necessity for multiplex immunohistochemistry is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the clinical context and the information needed to guide diagnosis and treatment.The ordering physician must document the clinical indication in the patient's chart, supporting the need for the specific multiplex antibody stain to reach an appropriate diagnosis.
The clinical responsibility is shared between the lab analyst (technical component: preparing and staining slides) and the pathologist (professional component: microscopic interpretation and report generation).
In simple words: This lab test uses special stains to look at a tissue sample under a microscope. The test uses multiple antibodies at the same time to help find specific things in the tissue, providing more detailed information for a diagnosis. The lab technician prepares the sample, and a doctor (pathologist) reviews the results and writes a report.
This CPT code reports immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining procedures involving a multiplex antibody stain (more than one antibody) on a single patient specimen.The lab analyst performs the technical component of preparing stained slides, applying the multiplex antibody stain, which may include multiple antibodies targeting specific antigens and a marker (e.g., enzyme or fluorescent molecule) to visualize the antibody-antigen complex. The pathologist then interprets the stained slides microscopically and generates a report for the ordering clinician.The code is reported per specimen, regardless of the number of blocks or slides prepared. This code represents the global service, encompassing both technical and professional components.
Example 1: A patient presents with a suspicious skin lesion. A biopsy is taken, and the specimen is sent to pathology for immunohistochemical analysis to determine the presence and type of cancer cells using a multiplex antibody stain targeting different cancer markers (e.g., a cocktail identifying different types of melanoma cells). Code 88344 is used., A patient undergoes a colonoscopy, and multiple polyps are discovered.Biopsies are taken from each polyp and sent for analysis.A multiplex immunostain is utilized on each sample to detect cancer markers specific to colorectal cancer.Code 88344 is reported for each polyp biopsy (each representing a separate specimen)., A patient has a lymph node biopsy following a breast cancer diagnosis. To determine if the cancer has spread, a multiplex IHC stain is performed on the sample to identify specific markers associated with metastatic breast cancer. Code 88344 is used.
* Patient demographics and relevant identifiers.* Ordering physician's information.* Date of service.* Detailed description of the specimen, including source and handling procedures.* Specific antibodies utilized in the multiplex stain.* Microscopic findings and interpretation by the pathologist.* Diagnostic report summarizing the results.
** Code 0762T may be used in conjunction with 88344 when digitization of glass microscope slides is performed.Always confirm appropriate code selection by referencing the most up-to-date CPT codebook and payer guidelines.
- Revenue Code: T1H (LAB TESTS - OTHER)
- RVU: Information not available in provided text.RVUs vary by payer and geographic location.
- Global Days: The global period for this procedure is not specified in the provided text.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC can be appended to bill for the technical component only.
- Fee Schedule: Fee schedule information is not available in the provided text.
- Specialties:Pathology, Oncology, Hematology
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient or Outpatient), Ambulatory Surgical Center, Laboratory