How To Use CPT Code 84378

CPT 84378 describes the measurement of a single sugar or saccharide in a patient’s urine or stool. 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 84378?

CPT 84378 can be used to measure the amount of a single sugar or saccharide in a patient’s urine or stool. This test is typically ordered by clinicians to evaluate patients for disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, such as the inability to digest certain sugars like lactose and fructose. The test involves mixing the patient’s specimen with specific substances and using methods like colorimetry to measure the amount of color produced, which corresponds to the amount of the single sugar in the specimen.

2. Official Description

The official description of CPT code 84378 is: ‘Sugars (mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides); single quantitative, each specimen.’

3. Procedure

1. The lab analyst receives a patient’s urine or stool specimen.
2. The analyst performs the necessary technical steps to mix the specimen with specific substances.
3. The mixture is then tested using methods like colorimetry to measure the amount of a single sugar or saccharide present.
4. The numerical result obtained corresponds to the amount of the single sugar in the specimen.
5. The analyst records the test results for each specimen tested.

4. Qualifying circumstances

CPT 84378 is used when there is a need to measure the amount of a single sugar or saccharide in a patient’s urine or stool. This test is typically ordered for patients who may have disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, such as the inability to digest certain sugars like lactose and fructose. The test helps evaluate the patient’s ability to absorb sugars in the upper small intestine and identify any unabsorbed sugars, also known as reducing substances, which may cause symptoms like diarrhea and fluid imbalance.

5. When to use CPT code 84378

CPT code 84378 should be used when there is a clinical need to measure the amount of a single sugar or saccharide in a patient’s urine or stool. It is appropriate to bill this code for each specimen tested. However, it is important to ensure that the test is medically necessary and ordered by a qualified healthcare professional.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 84378, the following documentation is required:

• Indication of the clinical need for the test
• Details of the specific sugar or saccharide being measured
• Date and time of the test
• Results of the test, including the numerical value obtained
• Signature of the lab analyst performing the test

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT 84378, ensure that the test is performed by a qualified lab analyst and that the necessary documentation is provided. It is important to follow the specific guidelines set by the payer and to use the appropriate modifiers if required. Additionally, consider any bundling or unbundling rules that may apply to this code.

8. Historical information

CPT 84378 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1999. There have been a few changes to the code over the years, including updates to the description and code range.

9. Examples

1. A lab analyst measures the amount of lactose in a patient’s urine specimen using CPT code 84378.
2. Using CPT code 84378, the lab analyst quantitatively measures the level of fructose in a patient’s stool specimen.
3. CPT code 84378 is used to measure the amount of a specific oligosaccharide in a patient’s urine sample.
4. A lab analyst performs a quantitative test for a single sugar in a patient’s stool specimen using CPT code 84378.
5. Using CPT code 84378, the lab analyst measures the level of a monosaccharide in a patient’s urine specimen.
6. A patient’s urine sample is tested for the presence of a specific disaccharide using CPT code 84378.
7. CPT code 84378 is used to measure the amount of a particular sugar in a patient’s stool specimen.
8. A lab analyst performs a quantitative test for a single saccharide in a patient’s urine sample using CPT code 84378.
9. Using CPT code 84378, the lab analyst measures the level of a specific monosaccharide in a patient’s stool specimen.
10. CPT code 84378 is used to measure the amount of a particular oligosaccharide in a patient’s urine sample.