CPT® Code 87253

Virus isolation; tissue culture, additional studies or definitive identification (eg, hemabsorption, neutralization, immunofluorescence stain), each isolate

The CPT® Code 87253 refers to the process of virus isolation through tissue culture, specifically when additional studies or definitive identification methods are necessary for each isolate. This code is utilized in situations where initial tissue culture results are inconclusive, prompting the need for further testing to accurately identify a suspected pathogen. The additional studies may include techniques such as hemabsorption, neutralization, or immunofluorescence staining, which are critical for confirming the presence of a virus. This code is essential for laboratories and healthcare providers to ensure that they can effectively diagnose viral infections by isolating and identifying the specific virus present in the tissue sample.