CPT® Code 87187

Add-On Code

Susceptibility studies, antimicrobial agent; microdilution or agar dilution, minimum lethal concentration (MLC), each plate (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

The CPT® Code 87187 refers to susceptibility studies that assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against specific bacteria. This procedure involves determining the minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of an antibiotic, which is the lowest concentration required to kill the bacteria. The testing is conducted using microdilution or agar dilution methods, where the bacteria are exposed to varying concentrations of the antibiotic in an agar solution. This allows for a precise measurement of how effective the antibiotic is at different dilution levels. The results of this study are crucial for guiding treatment decisions, as they help healthcare providers understand which antibiotics are most effective against particular bacterial infections. It is important to note that this code is used in conjunction with other related codes for different types of susceptibility testing, such as disc diffusion or enzyme release tests, which are coded separately. The use of CPT® Code 87187 is essential for accurate billing and documentation of these specific antimicrobial susceptibility tests.