CPT® Code 87071

Culture, bacterial; quantitative, aerobic with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, any source except urine, blood or stool

The CPT® Code 87071 refers to a laboratory procedure known as a bacterial culture, specifically a quantitative aerobic culture. This procedure involves the collection of a tissue sample from a source other than urine, blood, or stool. The collected sample is then placed in a specialized growth medium that supports the proliferation of bacteria. The primary objective of this culture is to isolate and presumptively identify any bacterial organisms present in the sample. During the examination, the culture is monitored for bacterial growth, and the quantity of bacteria is quantified, providing valuable information regarding the presence and potential impact of bacterial infections. It is important to note that if the test is intended to identify bacteria that can thrive in the absence of oxygen, the appropriate code to use would be CPT® Code 87073.