How To Use CPT Code 87075

CPT 87075 describes the culture and identification of bacteria from any source, except blood, using anaerobic techniques. 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 87075?

CPT 87075 can be used to describe the culture and identification of bacteria from any source, excluding blood, using anaerobic techniques. This code is used when a lab analyst performs an anaerobic culture and identifies any isolated bacteria to the least specific level, such as genus.

2. Official Description

The official description of CPT code 87075 is: ‘Culture, bacterial; any source, except blood, anaerobic with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates.’

3. Procedure

1. The lab analyst performs an anaerobic culture using material from any source except blood.
2. The culture is incubated in an anaerobic chamber or specialized anaerobic broth tube.
3. The lab analyst checks the culture for growth at specific time intervals and classifies the organism to the level of presumptive identification based on colony characteristics.
4. The lab analyst identifies the bacteria to a level of identification that is not completely specific, such as genus.

4. Qualifying circumstances

CPT 87075 is used for specimens from deep tissue or internal body sites to aid in the diagnosis of infection with anaerobic bacteria. The lab analyst may run additional tests to identify the organism more specifically.

5. When to use CPT code 87075

CPT code 87075 should be used when performing an anaerobic culture and presumptive identification of bacteria from any source, except blood. It should not be used for quantification of the number of organisms. If definitive identification is required, CPT code 87076 should be reported in addition to 87075.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 87075, the lab analyst must document the following information:

• Source of the specimen
• Techniques and culture media used for the anaerobic culture
• Date and time of culture initiation and observation
• Presumptive identification of the isolated bacteria to the least specific level, such as genus
• Additional tests performed, if any

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT 87075, ensure that the culture and identification are performed using anaerobic techniques and that the specimen is from any source except blood. Do not report CPT 87075 and 87073 together for the same specimen. Additional tests or services may be reported separately if performed.

8. Historical information

CPT 87075 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been several changes to the code over the years, including modifications to the description and inclusion of presumptive identification.

9. Examples

1. A lab analyst performs an anaerobic culture and identifies Clostridium bacteria from a deep wound specimen.
2. An anaerobic culture is performed on fluid from an oral infection, and the lab analyst identifies Prevotella genus bacteria.
3. A lab analyst isolates and presumptively identifies Bacteroides bacteria from an abscess specimen using anaerobic techniques.
4. An anaerobic culture is performed on material from a deep tissue infection, and the lab analyst identifies Fusobacterium genus bacteria.
5. A lab analyst performs an anaerobic culture on a specimen from a deep wound and identifies Peptostreptococcus genus bacteria.