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Official Description

Quantitation of therapeutic drug, not elsewhere specified

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 80299 refers to the quantitation of therapeutic drugs that are not specifically categorized under other existing codes. This procedure involves conducting a drug test aimed at detecting both the presence and the quantity of therapeutic drugs that do not have a designated code for reporting. The term "therapeutic drug" encompasses a wide range of medications that are used to treat various medical conditions, and the need for quantification arises when there is a requirement to monitor the levels of these drugs in a patient's system. This is particularly important for ensuring that the drug levels remain within therapeutic ranges, thereby optimizing treatment efficacy while minimizing potential toxicity. The absence of a specific code indicates that the drug in question may not be commonly tested or may be a newer therapeutic agent that has not yet been assigned a unique code for billing and reporting purposes. This code is essential for healthcare providers to accurately document and bill for the testing of these therapeutic agents, ensuring proper reimbursement and compliance with coding standards.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The indications for performing the quantitation of therapeutic drugs using CPT® Code 80299 include the need to monitor drug levels in patients who are undergoing treatment with therapeutic agents that do not have a specific code. This testing is crucial in various clinical scenarios, such as:

  • Monitoring Therapeutic Levels to ensure that the drug concentration remains within the desired therapeutic range, which is essential for effective treatment.
  • Assessing Compliance with prescribed medication regimens, as quantification can help determine whether patients are taking their medications as directed.
  • Evaluating Toxicity to identify potential adverse effects or toxic levels of the drug in the patient's system, which may require dosage adjustments or changes in therapy.

2. Procedure

The procedure for quantitating therapeutic drugs not elsewhere specified involves several key steps, which are outlined as follows:

  • Step 1: Sample Collection - A biological sample, typically blood or urine, is collected from the patient. The choice of sample type may depend on the specific therapeutic drug being tested and the clinical context.
  • Step 2: Laboratory Analysis - The collected sample is sent to a laboratory where it undergoes analysis using appropriate testing methods. These methods may include immunoassays, chromatography, or mass spectrometry, depending on the drug and the laboratory's capabilities.
  • Step 3: Quantification - The laboratory quantifies the concentration of the therapeutic drug present in the sample. This quantification is essential for determining whether the drug levels are within the therapeutic range, above the toxic threshold, or below the effective level.
  • Step 4: Reporting Results - Once the analysis is complete, the laboratory generates a report detailing the findings, including the specific concentration of the therapeutic drug detected in the sample. This report is then provided to the healthcare provider for further evaluation and management of the patient's treatment.

3. Post-Procedure

After the quantitation of therapeutic drugs using CPT® Code 80299, the healthcare provider will review the laboratory results to make informed decisions regarding the patient's treatment plan. Depending on the findings, the provider may need to adjust the dosage of the therapeutic drug, switch to an alternative medication, or implement additional monitoring strategies. It is also important for the provider to communicate the results to the patient, discussing any necessary changes in therapy and the importance of adherence to the prescribed regimen. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to reassess the patient's response to treatment and to conduct further testing if needed.

Short Descr QUANTITATIVE ASSAY DRUG
Medium Descr QUANTITATION DRUG NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED
Long Descr Quantitation of therapeutic drug, not elsewhere specified
Status Code Statutory Exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies)
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 9 - Not Applicable
Multiple Procedures (51) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Co-Surgeons (62) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Team Surgery (66) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
CLIA Waived (QW) No
APC Status Indicator Conditionally packaged laboratory tests
Type of Service (TOS) 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) T1H - Lab tests - other (non-Medicare fee schedule)
MUE 3
CCS Clinical Classification 235 - Other Laboratory
91 Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient.
90 Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
QJ Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b)
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
Action
Notes
2015-01-01 Changed Description Changed
2011-01-01 Changed Short description changed.
1993-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 1993.
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