Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTherapeutic Drug AssaysCPT cpt-80179-salicylate-serum-quantitative-assay
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 80179: Salicylate (Aspirin) Quantitative Assay

    CPT code 80179 describes a laboratory quantitative assay for salicylate (aspirin) performed by a lab analyst to measure the drug level in a patient specimen, typically serum; service type is clinical laboratory testing (toxicology/drug level quantification) and the typical site of service is a clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory where specimen processing and analytic instrumentation are available.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays, Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage Criteria.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 80179 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 80179 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 6

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old adult presents to the emergency department after ingesting a large number of aspirin tablets in a suicide attempt. The patient is tachypneic with tinnitus and mixed metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis on arterial blood gas. A serum specimen is collected by the ED phlebotomist and sent to the hospital clinical chemistry laboratory. The laboratory technologist performs a quantitative salicylate assay to measure serum salicylate concentration and returns the numeric result to the treating team for toxicity assessment and management decisions such as activated charcoal, alkalinization, or hemodialysis. Typical site of service is an acute care hospital laboratory or an outpatient hospital-based laboratory performing emergency or routine toxicology testing. The service type is a quantitative therapeutic drug level/toxicology assay performed by the clinical laboratory's technical staff.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    80179Salicylate (aspirin) assay, quantitative; laboratory technical serviceThe primary technical test performed to quantify serum salicylate level.
    80053Comprehensive metabolic panel; includes multiple chemistry analytesOften performed concurrently to assess electrolytes, renal function, and acid-base contributors in overdose evaluation.
    84443Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)Common concurrent chemistry when evaluating altered mental status, though not directly related to salicylate assay.
    82306Acetaminophen; assay, quantitativeFrequently ordered alongside salicylate level in suspected multi-drug overdose.
    87070Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count (urine)Not directly related but represents common lab services that may be billed during ED workup; ordered as indicated.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207RC0000XCardiovascular Disease PhysicianAn internist who specializes in diseases of the heart and blood vessels and manages complex cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and life-threaten…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    2279P1005XPulmonary Rehabilitation Registered Respiratory TherapistThe respiratory therapist can assist the chronic pulmonary patient in returning to an optimal role in society by providing an effective program. It i…
    3336H0001XHome Infusion Therapy PharmacyPharmacy-based, decentralized patient care organization with expertise in USP 797-compliant sterile drug compounding that provides care to patients wi…
    2084P2900XPain Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) PhysicianA neurologist, child neurologists or psychiatrist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experie…
    202K00000XPhlebology PhysicianPhlebology is the medical discipline that involves the diagnosis and treatment of venous disorders, including spider veins, varicose veins, chronic ve…
    247200000XOther TechnicianA collective term for persons with specialized training in various narrow fields of expertise whose occupations require training and skills in specifi…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    B-Hemolytic Streptococcus TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance AssaysOscar Health2026-10-01
    Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Lyme Disease Testing Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pathogen Panel TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnostic Testing of Common Sexually Transmitted InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-80143-ACETAMINOPHEN-QUANTITATIVE-SERUM-ASSAY

    CPT 80143: Acetaminophen Quantitative Assay

    CPT-80145-ADALIMUMAB-LEVEL-ASSAY-THERAPEUTIC-DRUG-MONITORING

    CPT 80145: Adalimumab Quantitative Drug Level Assay

    CPT-80150-AMIKACIN-QUANTITATIVE-ASSAY-THERAPEUTIC-DRUG-MONITORING

    CPT 80150: Amikacin Quantitative Serum Level

    CPT-80151-AMIODARONE-QUANTITATIVE-SERUM-ASSAY

    CPT 80151: Amiodarone Quantitative Drug Level Assay

    CPT-80155-CAFFEINE-LEVEL-TESTING

    CPT 80155: Caffeine Level Quantification

    CPT-80156-CARBAMAZEPINE-TOTAL-LEVEL-LAB-ASSAY

    CPT 80156: Carbamazepine Total Level (Serum)

    CPT-80157-FREE-CARBAMAZEPINE-ASSAY

    CPT 80157: Free Carbamazepine Quantitative Assay

    CPT-80158-CYCLOSPORINE-QUANTITATIVE-ASSAY-LAB

    CPT 80158: Cyclosporine Quantitation, Laboratory

    CPT-80159-CLOZAPINE-LEVEL-ASSAY-THERAPEUTIC-DRUG-MONITORING

    CPT 80159: Clozapine Level Measurement

    CPT-80161-CARBAMAZEPINE-EPOXIDE-QUANTITATIVE-ASSAY

    CPT 80161: Carbamazepine 10,11-Epoxide Level, Quantitative

    Showing 1–10 of 87

    • More pages

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.