Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: Is there a CPT® code for swabbing a wound to collect fluid to send to a lab for culture?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: No, there is not a separate CPT® code for swabbing a wound to collect fluid to send to a lab for culture.

Most payers, including Medicare, assume that the cost of most simple specimen collection procedures, such as fingerstick, urine cup collection, or culture swab, is included in the exam. Even though CPT® provides a code for fingerstick (36416, Collection of capillary blood specimen [e.g., finger, heel, ear stick]), Medicare and most private payers won’t reimburse for the code.

Watch for: You can often bill for more complicated specimen collections that require special services, such as some of the following:

• 36415 — Collection of venous blood by venipuncture
  
• 89230 — Sweat collection by iontophoresis
  
• 89220 — Sputum, obtaining specimen, aerosol induced technique (separate procedure).