Learn the correct CPT codes to report for sputum culture and blood fungus testing when diagnosing pneumonia patients. Get a clear, concise explanation from a certified coding expert.
Table of Contents
Question
A patient with pneumonia has a sputum culture and blood drawn to test for fungus.
What CPT® codes are reported?
A. 87040, 87070
B. 87101, 87103
C. 87102, 87103
D. 87106, 87107
Answer
B. 87101, 87103
Explanation
When a patient with pneumonia has both a sputum culture and blood drawn to test for fungus, you would report CPT codes 87101 and 87103.
87101 is the appropriate code for “Culture, fungi (mold or yeast) isolation, with presumptive identification of isolates; skin, hair, or nail”. This code covers the sputum culture to test for fungus.
87103 is the correct companion code, which represents “Culture, fungi (mold or yeast) isolation, with presumptive identification of isolates; blood”. This captures the blood test to check for fungus.
The other code pairs listed are not correct for this specific scenario:
- 87040 is for “Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates” and 87070 is for “Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates”. These are for bacterial cultures, not fungus.
- 87102 is for “Culture, fungi (mold or yeast) isolation, with presumptive identification of isolates; other source (except blood)” which is too broad. 87106 and 87107 are for fungi definitive identification, which was not performed here.
So in summary, for a sputum culture and blood fungus test workup on a pneumonia patient, the correct CPT codes to report are 87101 and 87103. Proper coding is essential for claim accuracy and compliance.
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