Summary & Overview
CPT 80345: Barbiturate Detection in Serum or Urine
CPT code 80345 designates a laboratory assay for detection and quantification of barbiturates in patient specimens, typically serum or urine. The test has clinical importance for both therapeutic drug monitoring—when barbiturates are prescribed for seizure control—and for toxicology screening in suspected substance misuse or overdose events. Nationally, barbiturate testing supports acute clinical decision-making in emergency and inpatient settings and underpins outpatient monitoring programs for patients on chronic anticonvulsant therapy. Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find benchmark information on coverage and coding practices for 80345, a synthesis of common clinical contexts in which the test is ordered, and a concise review of billing considerations relevant to laboratory and hospital billing staff. The publication highlights typical sites of service, the clinical rationale for testing, and the role of barbiturate assays in both therapeutic management and toxicology panels. Data not provided in the input—such as detailed payer-specific reimbursement rates, associated taxonomies, or ICD-10 diagnosis pairings—is identified as unavailable. The content is intended for laboratory administrators, billing specialists, and clinical leaders responsible for test utilization and claims submission workflows.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 80345 describes a laboratory test that measures the level of, or detects the presence of, barbiturates in a patient specimen. The assay is performed by a clinical laboratory analyst and is most commonly run on serum or urine samples. This test is used both in therapeutic monitoring—such as when barbiturates are prescribed to prevent seizures—and in toxicology screening for suspected drug abuse or exposure.
Service type: Clinical laboratory toxicology assay
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory, hospital laboratory, outpatient laboratory collection sites, and emergency department specimen collection
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old adult presents to the emergency department after being found obtunded at home with suspected polysubstance overdose. Initial evaluation includes airway, breathing, circulation, bedside glucose and tox screen. The clinician orders a quantitative or qualitative barbiturate assay on a serum specimen to confirm exposure, guide reversal or supportive care, and assist with medico-legal documentation. The clinical workflow: sample collection (serum or urine) is labeled and sent to the hospital laboratory; the lab analyst performs an immunoassay and/or confirmatory gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to detect and measure barbiturate levels; results are reported to the ordering provider and documented in the electronic medical record for acute management and possible toxicology consultation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier | Standard use when no modifier applies |
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation portion (when applicable) |