How To Use CPT Code 87071

CPT 87071 describes the quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a specimen, excluding urine, blood, 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 87071?

CPT 87071 can be used to describe the quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a specimen, excluding urine, blood, or stool. This code is used when a lab analyst or microbiologist performs the technical steps to obtain and inoculate the appropriate culture media from the swab, solution, or container. The purpose is to quantitatively culture aerobically and determine the number of bacteria present in the specimen.

2. Official Description

The official description of CPT code 87071 is: ‘Culture, bacterial; quantitative, aerobic with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates, any source except urine, blood or stool.’

3. Procedure

1. The lab analyst or microbiologist obtains a specimen from a location other than urine, blood, or stool.
2. The analyst or microbiologist inoculates the appropriate culture media with the specimen.
3. The culture media is incubated aerobically to allow the growth of bacteria.
4. The analyst or microbiologist quantitatively determines the number of bacteria present in the specimen.
5. Presumptive identification of isolates is performed using simple testing reagents.

4. Qualifying circumstances

CPT 87071 is used for specimens obtained from any source except urine, blood, or stool. It is often used during surgical procedures to assess the extent of infection based on the number of bacteria present. The purpose is to provide a quantitative determination of the number of bacteria in the specimen.

5. When to use CPT code 87071

CPT code 87071 should be used when a quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates is performed on a specimen, excluding urine, blood, or stool. It is not appropriate to use this code for urine, blood, or stool cultures.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 87071, the following documentation is required:

• Specimen source
• Details of the culture media used
• Date and time of the culture
• Quantitative determination of the number of bacteria present
• Presumptive identification of isolates

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT 87071, ensure that the culture and presumptive identification of isolates are performed on a specimen other than urine, blood, or stool. This code should not be reported with CPT codes 87066, 87077, or 87081. It is important to note that quantitation in microbiology may not be as precise as in chemistry, and clinicians primarily use this test to gain information on the relative number of bacteria present.

8. Historical information

CPT 87071 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 2001. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Examples

1. A lab analyst performing a quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a wound specimen.
2. A microbiologist quantitatively determining the number of bacteria present in a respiratory specimen.
3. An analyst inoculating culture media with a specimen obtained during a surgical procedure to assess the extent of infection.
4. A lab technician performing a quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a skin swab.
5. A microbiologist quantitatively determining the number of bacteria present in a tissue specimen.
6. An analyst inoculating culture media with a specimen obtained from a surgical site to assess the presence of infection.
7. A lab technician performing a quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a wound drainage specimen.
8. A microbiologist quantitatively determining the number of bacteria present in a respiratory secretion specimen.
9. An analyst inoculating culture media with a specimen obtained from a deep tissue infection to assess the extent of bacterial growth.
10. A lab technician performing a quantitative aerobic culture and presumptive identification of isolates from a skin biopsy specimen.