AAPC - American Academy of Professional Coders Pathology and Laboratory Codes Questions and Answers

Question 1

A physician orders a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CPT 80053).
Due to a clotted specimen, the laboratory is unable to perform the total protein test, but all other 13 components of the panel are completed successfully.
How should the laboratory bill for this service?

Accepted Answer

Bill for the individual CPT codes for the 13 tests that were performed.

Answer

Bill for the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (80053) with modifier 52 for reduced services.

Answer

Bill for the Basic Metabolic Panel (80048) and the additional individual tests performed.

Answer

Do not bill for any services, as the ordered panel was incomplete.

Question 2

A pathologist performs a gross and microscopic examination of a colon biopsy specimen taken during a colonoscopy. What is the appropriate CPT code for this service?

Accepted Answer

88305 - Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination

Answer

88302 - Level II - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination

Answer

88309 - Level VI - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination

Answer

88300 - Level I - Surgical pathology, gross examination only

Question 3

A urine specimen is sent to the lab for a suspected urinary tract infection. The lab performs a culture with a colony count, which is positive. Subsequently, a sensitivity study is performed on the isolated organism to determine antibiotic effectiveness. Which of the following is the correct way to code these services?

Accepted Answer

Report the CPT code for the culture and, if performed, a separate CPT code for the sensitivity study.

Answer

Report one comprehensive code that bundles culture and sensitivity.

Answer

Report the CPT code for the definitive identification of the organism only.

Answer

Report the CPT code for urinalysis with reflex to culture.

Question 4

Which of the following services is an example of a presumptive drug test?

Accepted Answer

A qualitative immunoassay test using a dipstick or cup that is read by direct optical observation.

Answer

A quantitative test using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify a specific drug and its concentration.

Answer

A therapeutic drug assay to monitor the level of a prescribed medication.

Answer

A molecular pathology test to identify genetic markers for drug metabolism.

Question 5

An attending physician is perplexed by a patient's conflicting lab results and requests a formal consultation from the hospital pathologist. The pathologist reviews the patient's medical records and laboratory data, and provides a comprehensive written report with their medical interpretive judgment. Which CPT code series would be used to report this service?

Accepted Answer

80503-80506 (Pathology Clinical Consultation)

Answer

88321-88325 (Consultation and report on referred slides prepared elsewhere)

Answer

99242-99245 (Office or Other Outpatient Consultations)

Answer

88300-88309 (Surgical Pathology)

Question 6

During the examination of a gastric biopsy (coded as 88305), the pathologist finds it medically necessary to perform an additional special stain to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori microorganisms. How should this additional service be coded?

Accepted Answer

With an add-on CPT code for a special stain for microorganisms, such as 88312.

Answer

It is included in the primary surgical pathology code (88305) and not reported separately.

Answer

By appending modifier 22 (Increased Procedural Services) to the 88305 code.

Answer

With a separate CPT code for immunohistochemistry, such as 88342.