Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: The surgeon submitted a lung biopsy for suspected histoplasmosis infection. The pathologist examined the tissue and used a methenamine silver stain for fungus. How should we code this?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer: You should report the pathology exam of a lung biopsy as 88305 (Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, … Lung, transbronchial biopsy …).

Although the 88305 service includes standard stains such as hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), you should separately report a special stain. In this case, you should code the methenamine silver stain for fungus using 88312 (Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (e.g., acid fast, methenamine silver)).