How To Use CPT Code 84143
CPT 84143 describes the measurement of 17 hydroxypregnenolone levels in a patient specimen, such as serum. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, similar codes and billing examples.
1. What is CPT Code 84143?
CPT 84143 can be used to measure the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in a patient specimen, such as serum. This code is used when a lab analyst performs a test to evaluate the amount of this steroid hormone in the specimen. The test may involve adding reagents and using methods like liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to quantify the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone.
2. Official Description
The official description of CPT code 84143 is: ‘Measurement of 17 hydroxypregnenolone.’
3. Procedure
- The lab analyst receives a patient specimen, such as serum, for testing.
- The analyst adds reagents to the specimen and prepares it for analysis.
- The specimen is subjected to liquid chromatography, which separates chemicals based on their sizes.
- Mass spectrometry is used to measure the mass to charge ratio of the 17 hydroxypregnenolone in the specimen.
- The lab analyst quantifies the amount of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in the specimen based on the results of the analysis.
4. Qualifying circumstances
CPT 84143 is typically ordered as an ancillary test to help diagnose congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). It may be used when prior testing has ruled out deficiencies in the enzymes 21 hydroxylase and 11 hydroxylase as the cause of CAH. The test results can confirm a deficiency in another enzyme, 3 beta hydroxy dehydrogenase, as the cause of CAH. Symptoms of CAH include excessive salt excretion in newborns, dehydration, diarrhea, poor feeding, low blood sodium and sugar, rapid heart rate, and adrenal crisis. This test may also be ordered for infertile female patients, along with other tests.
5. When to use CPT code 84143
CPT code 84143 should be used when there is a need to measure the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in a patient specimen, such as serum. It is typically ordered as an ancillary test to aid in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia or for infertility evaluations in female patients.
6. Documentation requirements
To support a claim for CPT 84143, the documentation should include:
- Patient’s diagnosis or reason for ordering the test
- Details of the specimen collected, such as serum
- Date and time of the test
- Results of the analysis, including the measured levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone
- Signature of the lab analyst performing the test
7. Billing guidelines
When billing for CPT 84143, ensure that the test is performed by a lab analyst and that the necessary documentation is provided. It is important to follow the specific guidelines of the payer regarding specimen collection, as some may pay separately for the collection of the specimen using a different code. Additionally, consider any modifiers that may be required for accurate billing.
8. Historical information
CPT 84143 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1994. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.
9. Examples
- A lab analyst measures the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in a patient’s serum specimen to aid in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- As part of an infertility evaluation, a lab analyst quantifies the amount of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in a female patient’s serum specimen.
- For a patient with suspected 3 beta hydroxy dehydrogenase deficiency, a lab analyst performs a test to measure the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in their serum specimen.
- A lab analyst evaluates the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in a patient’s serum specimen to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- As part of a research study, a lab analyst measures the levels of 17 hydroxypregnenolone in multiple patient specimens to investigate its correlation with certain medical conditions.