CPT® Code 87088

A laboratory test known as CPT® Code 87088 is utilized to culture bacteria from urine samples, allowing for the isolation and presumptive identification of each bacterial isolate present. This procedure is critical in diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can manifest as acute or chronic conditions, including pyelonephritis (kidney infection), cystitis (bladder infection), urethritis (infection of the urethra), or acute urethral syndrome (a specific type of urethral infection). The process begins with the collection of a urine sample, which can be obtained through various methods such as clean catch, mid-stream void, or catheterization, ensuring that the sample is as uncontaminated as possible. Once the urine specimen is collected, it is inoculated onto agar plates using a calibrated loop, which allows for the growth of bacteria in a controlled environment. The plates are then incubated to promote bacterial growth, and semi-quantitative colony counts are performed to assess the number of bacteria present. A colony count of 10,000 colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/mL) typically suggests the presence of a pathogen, while a count of 100,000 cfu/mL is considered significant for diagnosing a urinary tract infection. Following the growth phase, each isolated bacterial colony is subjected to further examination using either conventional or rapid identification techniques to accurately determine the specific pathogen involved. The reporting of CPT® Code 87088 is applicable for each bacterial isolate identified during this testing process.