2025 CPT code 87799
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Pathology and Laboratory Procedures - Microbiology Procedures Pathology and Laboratory Feed
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), not otherwise specified; quantification, each organism.
Modifiers 59 (Distinct Procedural Service) and 91 (Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test) may be applicable.
Medical necessity must be established by documenting the clinical rationale for quantifying an unspecified infectious agent.
The lab analyst processes the specimen, performs amplification techniques (e.g., PCR), and quantifies the infectious agent using a nucleic acid probe.
In simple words: This test measures the amount of a specific germ causing an infection using DNA or RNA testing methods. It's used when other tests haven't identified the exact germ, and helps doctors track how well treatment is working by measuring changes in the amount of the germ.
This code represents the quantification of an infectious agent using nucleic acid detection (DNA or RNA), when the specific infectious agent is not identified by other more specific CPT codes.It involves laboratory procedures including amplification techniques like PCR, followed by assessment using a nucleic acid probe for quantification.
Example 1: A patient presents with symptoms of infection but routine tests are negative.87799 is used to quantify a suspected rare pathogen., A patient with a known infection is undergoing treatment. 87799 is used to monitor treatment efficacy by quantifying the infectious agent over time., A patient has a persistent infection, and 87799 is used to quantify the infectious agent load to help guide treatment decisions.
Documentation should include the specimen source, the clinical indication for the test, the nucleic acid probe technique used, and the quantification results.
- Revenue Code: T1H - LAB TESTS - OTHER (NON-MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE)
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Pathology, Infectious Disease
- Place of Service:Independent Laboratory, Outpatient Hospital