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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesUrinalysis ProceduresCPT cpt-81005-urine-analyte-qualitative-semiquantitative
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    CPT 81005: Urine Qualitative or Semiquantitative Analyte Test

    CPT code 81005 describes a laboratory procedure in which a lab analyst measures a requested analyte in a urine specimen and reports the result as a qualitative or semiquantitative finding; this service is typically performed as a clinical laboratory urine analyte test (non-immunoassay) and is commonly provided in clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory settings for diagnostic or monitoring purposes.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 42-year-old outpatient presents to a primary care clinic with symptoms of dysuria and urinary frequency. A urine specimen is collected and sent to the laboratory for a general qualitative urine screen to detect non-specific analytes (e.g., urine occult blood by dipstick, specific gravity, pH, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, bilirubin, urobilinogen, ketones) that do not have a more specific analyte CPT code. The laboratory analyst performs a manual or automated dipstick/strip test (non-immunoassay), interprets color changes or reagent pad results, and reports qualitative or semiquantitative findings in the medical record. Results are used by the ordering clinician to guide diagnosis, inform the need for urine culture or further testing, and document baseline urinary parameters.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    81002Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent; non-automated, without microscopyOften performed as an office-level dipstick test; 81005 is used when a lab analyst measures a non-specific analyte and reports qualitative/semiquantitative results in the lab setting.
    81003Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent; automated, without microscopyAutomated point-of-care or instrumented dipstick testing that may complement 81005 when instrumentation is used in the lab.
    81007Urinalysis, with microscopyPerformed when microscopic examination of urine sediment is required following abnormal 81005 results.
    81025Urine pregnancy test, by visual color comparison methodsFrequently ordered in conjunction with general urine testing for women of childbearing potential; more specific than 81005 for hCG detection.
    87086Culture, bacterial; urine, quantitative, colony countOrdered when 81005 indicates possible infection (e.g., positive leukocyte esterase or nitrite) to identify pathogens and susceptibilities.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    363L00000X
    364SN0800X
    111NN1001X
    207WX0109X
    282NR1301X
    293D00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-81000-URINALYSIS-DIP-STICK-AND-MICROSCOPIC-EXAM

    CPT 81000: Manual Urinalysis with Microscopy

    CPT-81001-URINALYSIS-DIPSTICK-OR-TABLET-REAGENT

    CPT 81001: Urinalysis by Dipstick or Tablet Reagent

    CPT-81002-MANUAL-URINALYSIS-REAGENT-STRIP-TABLET

    CPT 81002: Manual Urine Dipstick Chemical Analysis

    CPT-81003-AUTOMATED-URINE-DIPSTICK-ANALYSIS

    CPT 81003: Automated Urinalysis Dipstick with Instrumented Reader

    CPT-81007-URINE-BACTERIURIA-NONCULTURE-NONDIPSTICK-TEST

    CPT 81007: Nonculture, Nondipstick Urinalysis for Bacteriuria

    CPT-81015-MICROSCOPIC-URINALYSIS-LABORATORY-EXAMINATION

    CPT 81015: Microscopic Urinalysis, Sediment Examination

    CPT-81020-MICROSCOPIC-URINALYSIS-MULTIPLE-GLASS-COLLECTIONS

    CPT 81020: Microscopic Urine Examination of Multiple Specimens

    CPT-81025-URINE-PREGNANCY-TEST-VISUAL-READ

    CPT 81025: Urine Pregnancy Test, Analyst-Read Visual

    CPT-81050-TIMED-URINE-COLLECTION-VOLUME-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 81050: Timed Urine Volume Measurement

    CPT-81099-UNLISTED-URINE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 81099: Unlisted Urine Procedure

    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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