How To Use CPT Code 87088

CPT 87088 refers to a bacterial culture procedure involving urine samples, with isolation and presumptive identification of each isolate. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, similar codes, and examples of CPT 87088.

1. What is CPT 87088?

CPT 87088 is a code used to describe a specific laboratory procedure involving the culture of bacteria from urine samples. This procedure is performed to isolate and make a presumptive identification of each bacterial isolate present in the urine sample. The code is used for billing and documentation purposes in the medical field.

2. 87088 CPT code description

The official description of CPT code 87088 is: “Culture, bacterial; with isolation and presumptive identification of each isolate, urine.”

3. Procedure

The 87088 procedure involves the following steps:

1. Collection of a urine sample from the patient.
2. Preparation of the urine sample for bacterial culture.
3. Inoculation of the urine sample onto appropriate culture media.
4. Incubation of the culture media under optimal conditions for bacterial growth.
5. Examination of the culture media for bacterial growth and colony morphology.
6. Isolation of individual bacterial colonies for further analysis.
7. Performing presumptive identification tests on each bacterial isolate, such as Gram staining, catalase, oxidase, and indole tests.
8. Recording and reporting the results of the presumptive identification tests.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible to receive CPT code 87088 services are those who have a clinical indication for a urine culture, such as suspected urinary tract infection, asymptomatic bacteriuria, or other conditions where bacterial identification from urine samples is necessary. The decision to perform this test is typically based on the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and physical examination findings.

5. When to use CPT code 87088

It is appropriate to bill the 87088 CPT code when a urine culture with isolation and presumptive identification of each bacterial isolate is performed. This code should not be used for primary or initial tests for quantitative urine cultures, but only in addition to the primary urine culture, such as CPT 87086 (Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine).

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 87088, the following information should be documented:

• Patient’s demographic information, including name, date of birth, and medical record number.
• Date and time of urine sample collection.
• Relevant clinical history and indication for the urine culture.
• Results of the presumptive identification tests performed on each bacterial isolate.
• Interpretation of the test results and their clinical significance.
• Signature of the healthcare provider who ordered the test and the laboratory personnel who performed the test.

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT code 87088, it is essential to follow the appropriate billing guidelines and rules. These may include proper documentation of the procedure, accurate coding of the service provided, and adherence to any payer-specific requirements. Additionally, it is crucial to be aware of any relevant coding updates or changes that may impact the billing process.

8. Historical information

CPT 87088 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been several updates to the code since its introduction:

• Code Changed on 01-01-2001: Culture, bacterial, urine; identification, in addition to quantitative or commercial kit.
• Code Changed on 01-01-2007: Culture, bacterial; with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, urine.

9. Similar codes to CPT 87088

Five similar codes to CPT 87088 and how they differ are:

1. CPT 87086: This code is used for quantitative colony count urine cultures, which is a different procedure from CPT 87088.
2. CPT 87077: This code is used for aerobic bacterial cultures requiring additional methods for definitive identification, unlike the presumptive identification in CPT 87088.
3. CPT 87184: This code is used for susceptibility studies by disk method on urine culture isolates, which is not part of the CPT 87088 procedure.
4. CPT 87186: This code is used for susceptibility studies by MIC technique on urine culture isolates, which is also not part of the CPT 87088 procedure.
5. CPT 87070: This code is used for bacterial cultures from other sources, such as blood or wound specimens, and not specifically for urine cultures like CPT 87088.

10. Examples

Here are 10 detailed examples of CPT code 87088 procedures:

1. A patient with a suspected urinary tract infection has a urine sample collected and cultured, resulting in the isolation and presumptive identification of Escherichia coli.
2. A pregnant woman undergoes a routine urine culture to screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria, and the culture isolates and presumptively identifies Group B Streptococcus.
3. A patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections has a urine culture performed, isolating and presumptively identifying Klebsiella pneumoniae.
4. A patient with diabetes and a suspected urinary tract infection has a urine culture, which isolates and presumptively identifies Proteus mirabilis.
5. A patient with a urinary catheter has a urine culture performed due to suspected catheter-associated urinary tract infection, resulting in the isolation and presumptive identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
6. A patient with a history of kidney stones undergoes a urine culture to evaluate for possible infection, and the culture isolates and presumptively identifies Enterococcus faecalis.
7. A patient with a spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder has a urine culture performed due to suspected infection, isolating and presumptively identifying Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
8. A patient with a history of urinary tract infections and recent antibiotic use has a urine culture, which isolates and presumptively identifies multiple bacterial species, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
9. A patient with a history of bladder cancer and urinary diversion has a urine culture performed due to suspected infection, resulting in the isolation and presumptive identification of Citrobacter freundii.
10. A patient with a history of renal transplantation undergoes a urine culture to evaluate for possible infection, and the culture isolates and presumptively identifies Morganella morganii.