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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDefinitive Drug Testing ProceduresCPT cpt-80320-alcohol-detection-in-specimen
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    CPT 80320: Alcohol Detection and Quantification

    CPT code 80320 describes laboratory testing to detect or quantify alcohol in a patient specimen — commonly blood, other body fluids, or tissue — representing a toxicology/chemistry service performed by a clinical laboratory; typical site of service is a clinical laboratory or hospital lab and the service type is specimen analysis for alcohol detection/quantification.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hematology - Adzynma, Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancer, Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverage.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient scenario involves an adult who presents to an emergency department or outpatient clinic after suspected acute alcohol intoxication, a motor vehicle collision, a workplace incident, or for preoperative clearance when recent alcohol exposure is a concern. A clinician orders a blood alcohol concentration test to quantify ethanol levels for clinical management, medico-legal documentation, or occupational/forensic purposes. A phlebotomy technician collects a blood specimen (or an alternative body fluid if indicated) and sends it to the clinical laboratory. In the lab, a clinical chemist or medical technologist performs an alcohol assay using enzymatic methods, gas chromatography, or an immunoassay to detect or measure ethanol. The laboratory documents analytic methodology, result values, and any comments about specimen integrity (e.g., hemolysis, dilution, chain-of-custody). Results are reported to the ordering provider and, if required, released to authorized legal or occupational entities following institutional policies and applicable regulations.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    80320Alcohol; quantitative (e.g., ethanol) or qualitative detection in blood or other body fluidsPrimary code for measurement or detection of ethanol in patient specimens.
    80307Alcohol and/or drug screen by instrumented chemical analysis, each drug class (e.g., immunoassay), first testOften performed as an initial toxicology screen that may prompt a specific alcohol quantification.
    80306Alcohol and/or drug test, non-instrumented (e.g., urine dipstick), each drug classMay be used in preliminary point-of-care screening before laboratory confirmation with 80320.
    80305Collection and handling of urine specimen for drug testing (separate code for custody and control)Represents specimen collection and chain-of-custody processes frequently used when results have forensic implications.
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureProcedure code for the blood draw used to obtain a specimen for the alcohol assay.

    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    126900000X
    133VN1401X
    3416A0800X
    207RA0000X
    273R00000X
    2086S0120X
    225X00000X
    207QD0401X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F10.10Alcohol abuse, uncomplicated
    F10.129Alcohol abuse with intoxication, unspecified
    F10.14Alcohol abuse with alcohol-induced mood disorder
    F10.20Alcohol dependence, uncomplicated
    F10.21Alcohol dependence, in remission
    F10.239Alcohol dependence with withdrawal, unspecified
    F10.24Alcohol dependence with alcohol-induced mood disorder
    F10.920Alcohol use, unspecified with intoxication, uncomplicated
    F10.929Alcohol use, unspecified with intoxication, unspecified
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hematology - AdzynmaCigna2026-10-15
    Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancerselect_health2026-10-01
    Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) CoverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Epithelial Cell Cytology in Breast Cancer Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Factor VIII ProductsCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-80321-ALCOHOL-BIOMARKER-ASSAY

    CPT 80321: Alcohol Biomarker Assay, One or Two Compounds

    CPT-80322-ALCOHOL-BIOMARKER-PANEL-MULTI-ANALYTE

    CPT 80322: Alcohol Biomarker Panel, Three or More Compounds

    CPT-80323-ALKALOID-DRUG-LEVEL-ANALYSIS

    CPT 80323: Alkaloid Drug Identification and Quantitation

    CPT-80324-AMPHETAMINE-DRUG-TESTING-LAB-ASSAY

    CPT 80324: Amphetamine Detection and Quantification

    CPT-80325-AMPHETAMINES-DETECTION-AND-QUANTIFICATION

    CPT 80325: Detection of Three or Four Amphetamines

    CPT-80326-AMPHETAMINES-PANEL-5-OR-MORE

    CPT 80326: Detection/Quantification of Five or More Amphetamines

    CPT-80334-SEROTONERGIC-ANTIDEPRESSANT-PANEL

    CPT 80334: Detection of Six or More Serotonergic Antidepressants

    CPT-80335-TRICYCLIC-ANTIDEPRESSANT-ASSAY

    CPT 80335: Tricyclic and Cyclical Antidepressant Assay

    CPT-80344-MULTI-ANTIPSYCHOTIC-PANEL-SEVEN-PLUS-DRUGS

    CPT 80344: Multiplex Antipsychotic Drug Detection (7+ agents)

    CPT-80345-BARBITURATE-DETECTION-SERUM-URINE

    CPT 80345: Barbiturate Detection in Serum or Urine

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    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.
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