CPT® Code 88321

The CPT® Code 88321 is utilized when a physician offers consultative advice regarding slides that have been prepared at a different facility or location, rather than within the physician's own office. This code specifically applies to situations where the physician reviews these referred slides and generates a report based on their findings. It is important to distinguish this code from CPT® Code 88323, which pertains to instances where the physician not only provides consultative advice but also prepares slides from tissue or cell samples that have been collected elsewhere and sent to the physician's office. In summary, 88321 is focused on the consultation and reporting aspect of slides prepared externally, emphasizing the physician's role in evaluating and interpreting the provided materials without engaging in the slide preparation process themselves.