Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: When a physician orders a group of lab tests that he calls a specific "panel," but the tests don't comprise a panel in the CPT book, how should we code the tests?


New Jersey Subscriber
Answer: If the lab tests include all of the tests in a CPT panel plus additional test(s), code the panel plus separate test(s).

For example, if a physician orders blood glucose (82947, Glucose; quantitative, blood [except reagent strip]) plus all the elements of a lipid panel--82465, Cholesterol, serum or whole blood, total; 83718, Lipoprotein, direct measurement; high-density cholesterol; 84478, Triglycerides--you should report 82947 and 80061 (Lipid panel).

If the physician orders a group of tests that looks like a panel but lacks one or more tests, you can't code the panel--you must list each test separately.

For instance, if the physician orders blood potassium, sodium and chloride, you can't code the electrolyte panel (80051) because the physician did not request carbon dioxide. You must code each test separately (82435, chloride; blood; 84132, potassium; serum; 84295, sodium; serum). 

Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were prepared with the assistance of R. M. Stainton Jr., MD, president of Doctors' Anatomic Pathology Services in Jonesboro, Ark.