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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.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 87071 is indicated for various clinical scenarios where bacterial infections are suspected, and a tissue sample is available for analysis. The following conditions may warrant the use of this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 87071 involves several critical steps to ensure accurate bacterial culture and identification. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Following the completion of the bacterial culture procedure, the laboratory will typically provide a report detailing the findings, including the presence and quantity of bacteria identified. Clinicians may use this information to guide treatment decisions, such as the selection of appropriate antibiotics. It is essential for healthcare providers to review the results in conjunction with the patient's clinical presentation to determine the next steps in management. Additionally, any necessary follow-up testing or monitoring may be recommended based on the culture results.
| Short Descr | CULTURE AEROBIC QUANT OTHER | Medium Descr | CUL BACT QUAN AEROBIC ISOL XCPT UR BLOOD/STOOL | Long Descr | Culture, bacterial; quantitative, aerobic with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, any source except urine, blood or stool | 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) | T1F - Lab tests - bacterial cultures | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 206 - Microscopic examination (bacterial smear, culture, toxicology) |
| 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. | AY | Item or service furnished to an esrd patient that is not for the treatment of esrd | 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. | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | Q4 | Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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. | 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. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Short Descriptor changed. |
| 2001-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2001. |
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