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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Stains Include Preparation to Examination

Published on Thu Jun 24, 2004

Question: Does CPT 88314 refer to histochemical stains made from sections cut on the cryostat, or should we report 88314 in addition to 88342 when we prepare immunohistochemistry slides made from frozen tissue that we subsequently process as permanent sections? Kansas Subscriber Answer: You should not report +88314 (Special stains [list separately in addition to code for primary service]; histochemical staining with frozen section[s]) in addition to 88342 (Immunohistochemistry [including tissue immunoperoxidase], each antibody) for a single histochemistry stain. Both 88314 and 88342 represent global codes that include tissue and slide preparation, staining, and the pathologist's examination of the slides.

Code 88342 describes tissue immunochemistry stains such as insulin immunoperoxidase, used to study the pancreatic islet of Langerhans in diabetic patients. Code 88314 describes the preparation and examination of a different (histochemical) staining technique, such as muscle biopsy ATPase or NADH stains. The code describes not just frozen section preparation but the histochemical staining and examination as well.
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