Summary & Overview
CPT 80350: Targeted Test for 1–3 Synthetic Cannabinoids
CPT code 80350 covers targeted laboratory testing to detect or quantify one to three synthetic cannabinoids in a patient specimen. This code is used by clinical and hospital laboratories to report focused toxicology assays for synthetic cannabinoid exposure, an area of growing clinical and public health concern due to emerging designer drugs and variable potency. Nationally, accurate coding for these assays matters for surveillance, payer processing, and clinical decision-making when synthetic cannabinoid use is suspected.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for ordering targeted synthetic cannabinoid testing, typical sites of service, and the common billing modifiers associated with laboratory services. The publication summarizes benchmarking considerations for utilization and reimbursement, outlines coding nuances specific to a one-to-three analyte panel, and highlights policy and payer coverage factors relevant to laboratories and billing teams.
This summary is intended for laboratory managers, medical coders, compliance officers, and clinicians who order or bill for toxicology testing and need a clear national-level reference for CPT code 80350. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 80350 describes a laboratory assay in which a lab analyst measures the amount of or detects the presence of one to three synthetic cannabinoids in a patient specimen. This service is a targeted toxicology test focused on identifying specific synthetic cannabinoid compounds.
Service Type: Laboratory — targeted toxicology analysis
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 24-year-old adult presents to the emergency department after an altered mental status event with suspected synthetic cannabinoid intoxication following use of an unknown smoked substance. The patient is agitated on arrival, has abnormal vital signs, and the treating clinician orders a toxicology panel that includes targeted testing for synthetic cannabinoids. A blood and/or urine specimen is collected, labeled, and sent to the hospital laboratory or a reference toxicology lab. The laboratory analyst performs 80350 to detect and/or quantify one to three synthetic cannabinoids in the submitted specimen using methods such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results are returned to the treating team to assist with clinical management, documentation of exposure, and potential public health reporting. Typical sites of service include hospital inpatient, emergency department, outpatient clinics, and reference laboratories where forensic or clinical toxicology testing is performed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the physician or laboratory professional's interpretation/reading of the test is submitted separately from the technical components. |