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The CPT® Code 82040 refers to a laboratory test that measures the levels of albumin in serum, plasma, or whole blood. Albumin is a vital plasma protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood, which is essential for proper fluid balance within the body. This protein has the ability to bind various substances, including water, electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, as well as fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin, and certain medications. The measurement of albumin levels is significant in evaluating a patient's nutritional status, as low levels may indicate malnutrition or other underlying health issues. To perform this test, a blood sample is collected, typically through a procedure known as venipuncture, which is separately reportable. The analysis of the collected plasma, serum, or whole blood is conducted using techniques such as spectrophotometry or quantitative nephelometry, both of which provide accurate quantification of albumin concentration in the sample.
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The albumin test (CPT® Code 82040) is indicated for various clinical scenarios where assessment of albumin levels is necessary. The following conditions may warrant this test:
The procedure for obtaining the albumin test involves several key steps that ensure accurate results. First, a healthcare professional will prepare the patient for venipuncture, which is the process of drawing blood from a vein. This may involve cleaning the skin with an antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection. Once the site is prepared, a tourniquet may be applied to the upper arm to engorge the veins, making them more visible and easier to puncture. The healthcare provider will then insert a sterile needle into the selected vein to collect the blood sample. The blood is drawn into a collection tube, which may contain specific additives to preserve the sample for testing. After the required amount of blood is collected, the needle is removed, and pressure is applied to the puncture site to minimize bleeding. The collected sample is then labeled and sent to the laboratory for analysis. In the lab, the plasma, serum, or whole blood is subjected to testing using either spectrophotometry or quantitative nephelometry, both of which are reliable methods for quantifying albumin levels.
After the blood sample has been collected for the albumin test, the patient may be advised to apply pressure to the puncture site for a few minutes to prevent bruising or bleeding. It is generally recommended that the patient avoid strenuous activities with the arm used for the blood draw for a short period. The results of the albumin test will typically be available within a few hours to a few days, depending on the laboratory's processing time. Healthcare providers will review the results to assess the patient's albumin levels and determine if any further action or treatment is necessary based on the findings.
| Short Descr | ASSAY OF SERUM ALBUMIN | Medium Descr | ALBUMIN SERUM PLASMA/WHOLE BLOOD | Long Descr | Albumin; serum, plasma or whole blood | 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) | Yes | 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 | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 233 - Laboratory - Chemistry and Hematology |
| QW | Clia waived test | 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. | Q4 | Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 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. | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 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. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | 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 | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | 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. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 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. | 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AY | Item or service furnished to an esrd patient that is not for the treatment of esrd | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | Q3 | Live kidney donor surgery and related services | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | 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) | QP | Documentation is on file showing that the laboratory test(s) was ordered individually or ordered as a cpt-recognized panel other than automated profile codes 80002-80019, g0058, g0059, and g0060. | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services |
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| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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