How To Use CPT Code 84181
CPT 84181 describes the Western blot technique used to separate and evaluate protein fractions in a patient’s blood or other body fluid. 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 84181?
CPT 84181 can be used to describe the Western blot technique, which is used to separate and evaluate different protein fractions in a patient’s blood or other body fluid. This code is used when a lab analyst performs the test to measure the level of each protein fraction in the specimen.
2. Official Description
The official description of CPT code 84181 is: ‘Protein; Western Blot, with interpretation and report, blood or other body fluid.’
3. Procedure
- The lab analyst performs a test on a patient specimen, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid, using the Western blot technique.
- The Western blot technique involves gel electrophoresis followed by membrane transfer to separate the protein fractions in the specimen.
- An electrical field is applied across a gel containing the specimen, causing the protein fractions to migrate apart.
- The lab analyst records and calculates the quantity of each protein fraction.
- The protein fractions are then transferred to a membrane in a process called blotting.
4. Qualifying circumstances
CPT 84181 is used when clinicians order the Western blot test to help diagnose infectious diseases that cause the proliferation of specific proteins in the blood or other body fluids. Examples of such diseases include HIV/AIDS, mad cow disease, Lyme disease, hepatitis B, and some herpes simplex viruses. The test is performed on a patient specimen, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid, and requires the expertise of a lab analyst.
5. When to use CPT code 84181
CPT code 84181 should be used when a lab analyst performs the Western blot technique to separate and evaluate protein fractions in a patient’s blood or other body fluid. It is appropriate to bill this code when the test is ordered by a clinician to help diagnose infectious diseases that cause the proliferation of specific proteins.
6. Documentation requirements
To support a claim for CPT 84181, the lab analyst must document the following information:
- Patient’s specimen type (blood or other body fluid)
- Date and time of the test
- Results of the Western blot technique, including the level of each protein fraction
- Signature of the lab analyst performing the test
7. Billing guidelines
When billing for CPT 84181, ensure that the test is performed by a lab analyst and that the results are interpreted and reported. If the ordering clinician requests a written interpretation of the test results by a pathologist, the interpretation is a separate billable service. The lab should report CPT 84181, and the pathologist should report the same code with modifier 26 to indicate the professional component. It is important to use the most specific code available for the Western blot test, and not to report CPT 84181 for tissue specimens.
8. Historical information
CPT 84181 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1993. There have been changes to the code over the years, with the most recent change occurring on January 1, 2005.
9. Examples
- A lab analyst performs a Western blot test on a patient’s blood specimen to measure the level of specific proteins associated with HIV/AIDS.
- The Western blot technique is used to separate and evaluate protein fractions in a patient’s cerebrospinal fluid specimen to help diagnose Lyme disease.
- A lab analyst performs a Western blot test on a blood specimen to measure the level of proteins associated with hepatitis B.
- The Western blot technique is used to detect specific proteins in a patient’s blood specimen, indicating the presence of mad cow disease.
- A lab analyst performs a Western blot test on a patient’s blood specimen to measure the level of proteins associated with herpes simplex viruses.
