Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Distinguish Sperm Motility, Viability
Question: How should we code a sperm viability test known as an Eosin Y test? Is that the same test as a semen motility test (89310)?
Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: You should code the Eosin Y sperm viability test as 89398 (Unlisted reproductive medicine laboratory procedure).
The sperm viability test, also called a sperm vitality test, is not the same thing as semen motility (89310, Semen analysis; motility and count [not including Huhner test]). In fact, clinicians may order the sperm viability test based on the results of the semen motility analysis.
For instance: If the results of a sperm motility test, such as 89310, demonstrate motility lower than a certain threshold, such as 50 percent, the lab may perform an additional analysis to determine the number of dead sperm cells. This is the sperm viability test, and clinicians need the information because it is clinically significant whether immotile sperm is alive or dead.
A common method for this test is an Eosin-nigrosin staining technique, or dye exclusion test, which uses Eosin Y. Because there’s not a specific code for the test, you should use the unlisted code, 89398.
Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
- CPT® 2015 Toxicology:
Part 1: Hone Drug Coding With New Sections, Drug Lists
Find changes all the way to the chemistry section. No kidding — the CPT® 2015 [...] - ICD-10:
Screening Drug Test Orders Use Many Diagnoses
Get ready for new options later this year. When your lab performs a screening drug [...] - ICD-10 Prep
Remember that ICD-10 goes into effect Oct. 1 this year for Medicare, meaning that you’ll [...] - CPT® 2015 Toxicology:
Part 2: Focus on Methods to Direct Your Drug Code Choice
Know your specimen source, too. New CPT® sections and new drug lists that you read [...] - Physician Fee Schedule:
Follow Changing Payment Trail for Your Lab
The RVUs aren’t all you need to observe. As it turns out, things weren’t settled [...] - Reader Question:
Check for 'Repeat' or 'Bundle' Modifiers
Question: A physician ordered basic metabolic panel 80048 for a patient, and later in the same [...] - Reader Question:
Distinguish Sperm Motility, Viability
Question: How should we code a sperm viability test known as an Eosin Y test? Is [...] - You Be the Coder:
Expand Keratoderma Choices in ICD-10
Question: Our pathologist received a skin specimen and wrote the diagnosis as “porokaratotic lesion.” What is [...]
