1. In the Pathology and Laboratory section, what additional items may be included with special
reports?
a. Complexity of symptoms, final diagnosis, patient physical findings, diagnostic and therapeutic
procedures, concurrent problems, follow-up care
b. Signs and symptoms, final diagnosis, follow-up care, concurrent problems, drug testing,
pathology findings
c. Complexity of symptoms, final diagnosis, pathology findings, pertinent physical findings,
diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, concurrent problems, follow-up care
d. Complexity of symptoms, final diagnosis, testing time, consultations notes, follow-up car
2. Brent had the following lab tests:
 Calcium, ionized
 Carbon dioxide
 Chloride
 Creatinine
 Glucose
 Potassium
 Sodium
 Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
How should you report Brent’s lab work?
a. 80048
b. 80047-52
c. 82310, 82374, 82435, 82565, 82947, 84132, 84295, 84520
d. 80047
3. Dr. Lee performed an intra-operative consultation on a bile duct tumor requiring frozen
section and cytological evaluation to a bladder tumor. How would you report his professional
services?
a. 88329
b. 88331-26, 88334-26
c. 88331, 88332 x 2
d. 88331-26, 88333-26
4. Which modifier would you use to report with code 88239 if the test was looking for hereditary
breast cancer?
a. OB
b. 59
c. 91
d. OA
5. Marvin had a breath alcohol test completed at the hospital after the police arrested him for
racing his four-wheeler past a McDonald’s drive through window. Marvin’s breath alcohol test
was mathematically calculated. How would you report the calculation on this test?
a. 82075
b. 82075 x 2
c. 82075, 82355
d. 82355
6. Dr. Monday provided a comprehensive clinical pathology consultation at the request of Dr.
Adams. This request was regarding a patient with various infections, drug allergies, skin rash,
and Down’s syndrome. The patient is in the hospital intensive care unit being treated with
intravenous antibiotics. Dr. Monday did not see the patient but he reviewed the patient’s history,
complex medical records, and provided a written report back to Dr. Adams regarding his
findings and recommendations for further treatment. How would Dr. Monday report his
services?
a. 80502
b. 99244
c. 99244-25, 80502
d. 99255-25, 80500
7. A patient had a semi-quantitative urinalysis for infectious agent detection. How should you
report this test?
a. 81050
b. 81005
c. 81099
d. 81005, 83518
8. Code 3011F describes which diagnostic or screening process?
a. Lipid panel results including total cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, calculated LDL-C
b. Lipid panel results including total cholesterol
c. Lipid panel results including cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein
d. Lipid panel results including cholesterol, triglycerides, carbon dioxide, glucose, potassium
9. A 58-year-old male patient with abdominal pain and episodes of bright red blood in his stool
reports to his physician’s office for a check-up. His physician performs a digital rectal exam and
tests for occult blood. Dr. Smith documents this blood occult test was done for purposes other
than colorectal cancer screening. How would you report the occult blood test?
a. 82270
b. 82274
c. 82271
d. 82272
10. Kathy has had intermittent abdominal pain, occasional diarrhea, stool frequency, and
bloating. Her symptoms have worsened over the past two months. Her physician orders a fecal
Calprotectin test to check for Crohn’s disease. How should you report the lab test?
a. 82270
b. 82272, 83993
c. 83993
d. 82271, 82272
11. Patient is coming in for a pathological examination for ischemia in the left leg. The first
specimen is 1.5 cm of a single portion of arterial plaque taken from the left common femoral
artery. The second specimen is 8.5 x 2.7 cm across x 1.5 cm in thickness of a cutaneous
ulceration with fibropurulent material on the left leg. What surgical pathology codes should be
reported for the pathologist?
A. 88302, 88304
C. 88305-26, 88307-26
B. 88304-26, 88305-26
D. 88307, 88309
12. During a craniectomy the surgeon performed a frozen section of a large piece of tumor and
sent it to pathology. The pathologist received a rubbery pinkish tan tissue measuring in aggregate
3 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm. The entire specimen is submitted in one block and a microscope was used to
examine the tissue. The frozen section and the pathology report are sent back to the surgeon
indicating that the tumor was a medulloblastoma. What CPT® code(s) will the pathologist
report?
A. 80500
B. 88331-26
C. 80502
D. 88331-26, 88304-26
13. Physician orders a comprehensive metabolic panel but also wants blood work on calcium
ions and also orders a basic metabolic panel. Select the code(s) on how this is reported.
A. 80053, 80047
B. 80053
C. 80047, 82040, 82247, 82310, 84075, 84155, 84460, 84450
D. 80053, 82330
14. 18-year-old female with a history of depression comes into the ER in a coma. The ER
physician orders a drug screen on antidepressants, phenothiazines, and benzodiazepines. The lab
performs a screening for each single drug class using an immunoassay in a random access
analyzer. Presence of antidepressants is found and a drug confirmation is performed to identify
the particular antidepressant. What correct CPT® codes are reported?
A. 80101 x 3, 80102
B. 80100, 80102
C. 80101 x 3, 80102 x 3
D. 80100 x 3, 80102 x 3
15. A patient uses Topiramate to control his seizures. He comes in every two months to have a
therapeutic drug testing performed to assess serum plasma levels of this medication. What lab
code is reported for this testing?
A. 80101
B. 80102
C. 80201
D. 80201, 80102
16. Patient that is a borderline diabetic has been sent to the laboratory to have an oral glucose
tolerance test. Patient drank the glucose and five blood specimens were taken every 30 to 60
minutes up to three hours to determine how quickly the glucose is cleared from the blood. What
code(s) should be reported for this test?
A. 82947 x 5
B. 82946
C. 80422
D. 82951, 82952 x 2
17.A patient with severe asthma exacerbation has been admitted. The admitting physician orders
a blood glass for oxygen saturation only. The admitting physician performs the arterial puncture
drawing blood for a blood gas reading on oxygen saturation only. The physician draws it again in
an hour to measure how much oxygen the blood is carrying. Select the codes for reporting this
service.
A. 82805, 82805-51
B. 82810, 82810-91
C. 82803, 82803-51
D. 82805, 82805-90
18. Cells were taken from amniotic fluid for analyzation of the chromosomes for possible
Down’s syndrome. The geneticist performs the analysis with two G-banded karyotypes
analyzing 30 cells. Select the lab codes for reporting this service.
A. 88248
B. 88267, 88280, 88285
C. 88273, 88280, 88291
D. 88262, 88285
19. Sperm is being prepared through a washing method to get it ready for the insemination of
five oocytes for fertilization by directly injecting the sperm into each oocyte. Choose the CPT®
codes to report this service.
A. 89257, 89280
B. 89260, 89280
C. 89261, 89280
D. 89260, 89268
20. A pathologist performs a comprehensive consultation and report after reviewing a patient’s
records and specimens from another facility. The correct CPT® code to report this service is:
A. 88325
B. 99244
C. 80502
D. 88329
21. A surgical specimen was removed from the proximal jejunum during a resection for
adenocarcinoma and was submitted to surgical pathology for gross and microscopic examination.
The correct code for this service is:
A. 88300
B. 88309
C. 88304
D. 88305
22. The physician performs the following tests on her automated equipment: HDL, total serum
cholesterol, triglycerides and a quantitative glucose. The correct codes for these procedures are:
A. 83718, 82465, 84478, 82947
B. 83721, 82465, 82951
C. 80061, 82947
D. 80061, 82950
23. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is being treated with gold. The physician orders a
therapeutic drug test to measure the level of gold. What is the correct code?
A. 80172
B. 80100
C. 80102
D. 80299
24. A patient presents to the ED with crushing chest pain radiating down the left arm and up
under the chin. There are elevated S-T segments on EKG. The cardiologist sees and admits the
patient to CCU. He orders three serial CPK enzymes levels with instructions that the tests are
also to be done with isoenzymes if the initial tests are elevated for that date of service. The CPK
enzyme levels were elevated, the lab codes would be:
A. 82550, 82552, 82550-76 x 2, 82552-76 x 2
B. 82550, 82552, 82552-91 x 2
C. 82550, 82550-91 x 2, 82552, 82552-91 x 2
D. 82550 x 3, 82554 x 3
25. Which of the following panels does NOT include chloride?
A. 80061
B. 80050
C. 80053
D. 80047
26. The patient presents with burning urination and frequency. The physician performs a UA
dipstick, which shows elevated WBC. He orders a urine culture with identification for each
isolate to determine which antibiotic to give to the patient for the infection. What are the
appropriate lab codes?
A. 81000, 81007
B. 81002, 87088
C. 81001, 87086
D. 87086, 87088
27. Which of the following coding combinations is an example of unbundling?
A. 80048, 80061
B. 80076, 80100
C. 80061, 83718, 84478
D. 82310, 82355, 82374
28. Patient is undergoing in vitro fertilization to get pregnant. Following the retrieval of follicular
fluid from the patient, the physician uses a microscope to examine the fluid to identify the
ooctyes. What is the code for the laboratory service?
A. 89250
B. 89254
C. 89255
D. 89258
29. A patient has an iliac crest bone marrow biopsy. The physician suspects the patient has
myelofibrosis. The bone marrow specimen is sent to pathology for gross and microscopic exam.
What is the appropriate code for the pathologist’s service?
A. 88304
B. 88305
C. 88309
D. 88307
30. A pathologist performs a comprehensive consultation and report after reviewing a patient’s
records, specimens and official findings from other sources. What is the correct code?
A. 88325
B. 99244
C. 80502
D. 88329
31. Which code(s) should be reported for the following case?
Clinical history: Mass in the body of stomach
Gross description: Cavity effusion – two Diff-Quik four smears prepared with simple filter and
interpretation Specimen received: Stomach mass touch prep
Adequacy: Specimen satisfactory for cytological evaluation
Diagnosis: Primary malignant neoplasm – body of the stomach
Notes: Cytology completed on specimen. The malignant cells show subjective features
suggestive of small-cell carcinoma; however, cell size is more attuned with non-small-cell
carcinoma.
a. 151.4, 88107
b. 209.63, 88104
c. 789.30, 151.4, 88107
d. 209.63, 151.3, 88108
32. Dr. Ross, a pathologist, completed both gross and microscopic surgical pathology after a lung
wedge biopsy. Dr. Miles, the surgeon, sent a single specimen to the laboratory after the
completion of a limited biopsy by thoracotomy. How would Dr. Ross report her services?
a. 88300, 88307
b. 32151, 88305-26
c. 88307
d. 32095, 88307-26
33. Robert was sent to a local laboratory for pre-employment drug screening. He provided a
urine sample to the laboratory technologist. The technologist completed a qualitative screening,
including one procedure for multiple drug classes using non-chromatographic methods with a
multiplexed kit. The test was negative and results were sent back to the requesting employer.
How should you report this laboratory service?
a. 80102
b. 80100, 80101
c. 80103
d. 80104
34. Jane underwent a combined rapid anterior pituitary evaluation panel with multiple exposures
and suppressions and had a hepatic function panel. How should these tests be reported?
a. 82024 x 4, 83002 x 4, 83001 x 4, 84146 x 4, 83003 x 4, 82533 x 4, 84443 x 4
b. 80418, 80076
c. 80418, 82024, 83002, 83001, 84146, 83003, 82533, 84443
d. 80076
35. Dr. Thomas received a request for consultation that included records and specimens. Dr.
Thomas did not see the patient, but documented the patient as inpatient status with a
comprehensive family history of colon cancer. The patient takes multiple medications and is at
high risk of complications due to weight loss, chronic diarrhea, and a continued fever. His
confirmative opinion, based on the review of specimens and records, indicates positive small-cell
cancer. Dr. Thomas sent his written report back to the requesting physician. How should Dr.
Thomas report his services?
a. 99254
b. 88325
c. 99254-25, 88325-26
d. 88323
29
36. Which modifier appended to code 88239 would describe solid tumor testing of Von Hipple–
Lindau disease?
a. - 59
b. - 1Z
c. - 0F
d. - P6
37. Larry had a venipuncture during his annual physical examination. The blood sample was
used for the following antibody tests: West Nile IgM, Shigella, mumps, and total hepatitis B.
How should you report these tests?
a. 36415
b. 86486
c. 86788, 86771, 86735, 86704
d. 36415-32, 86788, 86771, 86735, 86704
38. Today, an extended culture of five-day embryos was completed. The transfer tests will be
completed when the culture test results are confirmed. The culture testing results are scheduled
for return within 48 hours. How should the culture service be reported?
a. 89272
b. 89250
c. 89258
d. 89255, 89272
39. A patient had the following blood tests completed as part of her primary care physician’s
described metabolic panel: albumin, bilirubin total, calcium total, carbon dioxide, chloride,
creatinine, glucose, phosphatase alkaline, potassium, protein total, sodium, transferase (ALT
SGPT), transferase aspartate (AST SGOT), urea nitrogen (BUN), bilirubin direct, and a hepatitis
A IgM. How should these services be reported?
a. 80053, 82248, 86709
b. 80053-22
c. 80076-52, 80074-52, 80053-52
d. 80047, 80053, 80076
40. A patient had glucose tolerance testing completed on five specimens. How should these
laboratory services be reported?
a. 82947, 82951, 82952-51
b. 82951, 82952 x 2
c. 82947, 82952 x 5
d. 82951 x 5
ANSWERS
1. “a” You can find this answer at the beginning of the Pathology and Laboratory Guidelines of
the CPT Professional Edition.
2. “d” The tests reported are listed under the basic metabolic panel code 80047. When reporting a
panel, all the tests listed in the panel must be completed. If one test is missing, then you should
not report a panel. If a panel is completed and there are additional test(s), then you would report
the panel and the code(s) for the additional test(s). Do not add modifier -52 to panel codes to
indicate that not all the tests in the panel were completed.
3. “b” The first parenthetical note following codes 88331 and 88334 give reporting instructions
(us both codes).There are two tumor sites in this question.
4. “a” Genetic Testing Modifiers are listed in Appendix I of the CPT Professional Edition. The
note under the subcategory Cytogenetic Studies refers to Appendix I.
5. “a” The math calculations are included (bundled) with chemistry tests. You can find this note
in the last paragraph under the Chemistry subsection of the CPT Professional Edition.
6. “a” The code 80502 reports a comprehensive clinical pathology consultation. The patient was
not present; therefore you would not report an evaluation and management consultation code.
7. “B”
8. “a” You can find this code in Category II codes..50
9. “d” The code 82272 states, “…performed for other than colorectal neoplasm screening.”
10. “c” You can find this test in the CPT Professional Edition under Calprotectin, fecal.
11. B The first specimen is found under code 88304-Artery, atheromatous plaque. The second
specimen is found under code 88305-Skin, other than cyst/tag/debridement/plastic repair.
Modifier -26 is appended to show the pathologist’s service.
12. B Since the pathology consultation of the tumor is performed during a surgery you are
guided to code 88331. Codes 80500 and 80502 are reported according to CPT® guidelines when
the pathologist gives a response to a request from an attending physician in relation to a test
result(s) requiring additional medical interpretive judgment. The pathologist did not perform the
final report of the tumor, eliminating multiple choice answer D. Modifier -26 reports the
professional service.
13 . D The young child was administered the Poliovirus vaccine by intramuscular route guiding
you to code 90713 eliminating multiple choice B. The influenza vaccine was for intranasal route
is code 90660 eliminating multiple choices A and D. For the administration codes the vaccines
were administered without face-to-face counseling eliminating multiple choice answers A and B.
The first vaccination was administered by the intramuscular route guiding you to code 90471.
The second vaccine (additional vaccine) was administered by the intranasal route guiding you to
code 90474. The third vaccine (additional vaccine) is given by the subcutaneous route guiding
you to code 90472.
14. A To report codes for drug testing depends on the method and how many drug classes are to
be tested. The scenario documents the method of the drug screening being performed by using an
immunoassay method on each single drug class, guiding you to code 80101. Each drug class is
reported separately for this code meaning since there are three drug classes being tested you will
report 80101 three times. A drug confirmation was performed for one drug, reporting code 80102
only once.
15. C The lab test being performed in this scenario is for therapeutic drug monitoring to assist
the physician in drug regimen adjustment to reach an optimal drug concentration ensuring an
adequate therapeutic response without drug-induced adverse effects, guiding you to codes
80150-80299. The patient is not having a drug screening test in which the physician is
determining a specific drug present or not present in the patient (qualitative) eliminating multiple
choice answer A. Drug confirmation code, 80102, is only used with the drug testing codes not
therapeutic drug assay codes according to CPT ® guidelines.
16.D The test being performed is a glucose tolerance test (GTT) guiding you to code 82951. Five
blood specimens were taken in which the first three blood specimens are reported with code
82951. The last two blood specimens will be reported with code 82952 twice.
17. B The physician requests a blood gas for oxygen saturation (0₂) only, guiding you to code
82810. Modifier 51 is appended to surgical procedure codes meaning since this code is a lab
code modifier 51 is inappropriate, eliminating multiple choice answers A and C. There is no
mention of an outside lab, eliminating multiple choice D. The physician would report 36600 for
the arterial puncture.
18.B The chromosome analysis was taken from amniotic fluid eliminating multiple choices A, C
and D. There were two karyotypes performed. Code 88267 only has one karyotype in its code
description so code 88280 is reported for the additional karyotype. 30 cells were analyzed in
which code 88285 is reported for the additional cells over the initial 15 cell count.
19. B Sperm isolation is performed. Sperm washing refers to separating the sperm from semen
and getting rid of dead or slow-moving sperm as well as additional chemicals that may impair
fertilization (89260). After this is done each egg is injected with sperm for fertilization. A needle
is inserted through the egg’s outer shell into the cytoplasm of the egg for 10 oocytes or less
(89280).
20. A In the CPT® index, look up Pathology/Surgical/Consultation. You are referred to 8832188325. 88325 is the correct code. According to CPT® guidelines, “Code 88325 is used for a
more comprehensive consultation on referred material that involves review of records and
specimens.”
21. B. The encounter mentions that a specimen was removed from the proximal jejunum, which
is part of the small intestines, during a resection for cancer. Code 88309 is the only lab code that
covers the small intestine resection of a tumor.
22. C. The first three labs (HDL -87318, total serum, cholesterol-82465 and triglycerides-84478)
are part of the lipid panel for code 80061. That leaves the lab, quantitative glucose, to be added
with code 82947.
23. A. This is a therapeutic drug test, since the patient is taking gold for rheumatoid arthritis, and
this type of drug test is found between codes 80150 – 80299. 80172 is the correct code since the
physician wants to measure the level of gold found in the blood stream.
24. C. In this scenario, three CPK enzyme levels are performed. Modifier 91 is appended to the
second, and third CPK CPT® to indicate the services were repeat clinical diagnostic tests. Since
each of the CPK enzymes were elevated, the isoenzymes were also tested, which is reported with
82552. Modifier 91 is appended to the second and third test to indicate the tests are repeat
clinical diagnostic tests.
25. A. In the panel section of the laboratory tests, look up each of the codes to determine the tests
are included in the panel. 80061 is the only test that does not include chloride. 80050 includes a
comprehensive metabolic panel (80053) which includes chloride.
26. B. First the physician performs a UA dipstick with no indication of a microscopic test. This
test is reported with 81002. The urine culture is performed with identification for each isolate,
which is reported with 87088. 87086 is a quantitative test for a colony which is incorrect.
27. C. Unbundling is reporting components of a code separately that can be reported with one
code. In this case 80061 includes 83718 and 84478. It is unbundling to report components of a
panel separately.
28. B. The identification of ooctyes in the follicular fluid is performed. The stage in this scenario
does not include the culture or preparation of the oocyte, only the identification of them. This
service is reported with 89254.
29. B. The appropriate code is determined by the type of specimen. In this case the specimen is a
bone marrow biopsy. Under each code in this section of CPT® is a list of specimens for each
code. For this scenario, the correct answer is 88305 because it is specific for bone marrow.
88304 is reported for bone fragments which is not correct. 88307 is reported for a bone biopsy.
88309 is reported for bone resection.
30. A. The pathologist services are not reported with E/M codes, which eliminates answer option
B. 80502 is clinical consultation requested by an attending physician for the pathologist medical
interpretive judgment, which is not described in this scenario. The service is not performed
during surgery, which eliminates D as a correct answer. The code description for 88325 matches
the scenario in the question making it the correct answer.
31. a. The diagnosis code is reported from the diagnosis description section of this report or the
definitive findings. The clinical history indicates why the cytology is being evaluated. The
procedure code is reported with the simple filter preparation and interpretation as stated in the
question.
32. c. The specimen evaluated in this question was from a lung wedge biopsy. Review the codes
in the surgical pathology section based on anatomy and/or location of the specimen, absence or
presence of disease reported, and/or physician’s description of specimen received and studied.
33. d. This is a new code for 2011 and is out of numerical sequence; therefore, there are two
symbols listed with this code. Additionally, the parenthetical notes in the CPT® Professional
Edition below code 80101 assist with selection of testing with multiplexed screening methods.
34. b. One way to find this code in the index of the CPT® Professional Edition is under the main
term “Evocative/ Suppression Test.” Review of the code range provided will lead to the
combined rapid anterior pituitary evaluation panel. This panel code includes all the codes listed
with the panel.
35. b. This service is a comprehensive consultation with review of records and specimens. Dr.
Thomas did not see the patient in this question; therefore, an evaluation and management code is
not reported.
36. c. The CPT® Professional Edition includes a list of modifiers for genetic testing. Review
Appendix I for these modifiers. Additionally, the subcategory notes with cytogenetic studies
refer to Appendix I for modifiers.
37. c. One way to find these codes in the CPT® Professional Edition is under the main term
“Antibody,” then look for specific tests.
38. a. This question focuses on the culture and days of the embryos. The transfer code would be
reported on the date of that service. (The ability to select pertinent information from exam
questions is a key factor to successful test taking. To build testing skills, try reading the last
sentence first to figure out what is being asked in the question, then focus on that information.)
39. a. Review of the subcategory guidelines in the CPT® Professional Edition under the heading
“Organ or Disease-Oriented Panel” provides assistance with code selection. These notes indicate
that the use of panel codes includes the tests within a specific panel; however, additional tests
should be reported as necessary.
40. b. The parenthetical notes provided with add-on codes, such as code 82952, are helpful when
determining code selection and reporting.