Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Fungus ID
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: According to the CPT Assistant, August 1997, code 87163 (culture, any source, additional identification methods required) is to be reported when additional identification methods are required. Regardless of the species to be identified, code 87163 should be used in addition to the original culture such as the urine culture, 87086 (culture, bacterial, urine; quantitative, colony count) or a wound culture, 87070 (culture, bacterial, definitive; any other source). Code 87163 may be coded for each organism identified.
Editors note: Laurie Castillo, MA, CPC, president of American Association of Professional Coders Northern Virginia Chapter and owner of Physician Coding & Compliance Consulting in Manassas, Va, provided advice to answer these questions.
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