Summary & Overview
CPT 82077: Ethanol (Alcohol) Quantitative Test
CPT code 82077 represents a technical laboratory test to quantify ethanol (alcohol) concentration in patient specimens other than breath or urine, typically performed in clinical or hospital laboratories using immunoassay or enzyme-based methods. This code matters nationally because ethanol testing informs clinical decisions in emergency care, toxicology assessment, inpatient monitoring, and medicolegal contexts, and because laboratory billing and coverage policies affect access and reimbursement for these widely used assays.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context and typical service setting, common modifiers used with laboratory codes, and what to expect in payer coverage and reimbursement practice at a national level. The publication summarizes benchmarks and billing considerations, highlights relevant policy and coding guidance where available, and situates CPT code 82077 within routine lab workflows for ethanol quantification. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82077 describes a laboratory technical service in which a lab analyst quantifies ethanol (alcohol) concentration in a patient specimen (any specimen except breath or urine). The procedure uses methods such as immunoassay or enzymatic detection to measure ethanol levels.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory testing (quantitative ethanol measurement)
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory processing non-breath, non-urine patient specimens (for example, blood or serum samples)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision with suspected acute intoxication. A blood specimen (serum) is ordered to quantify ethanol concentration for medical management and medico-legal documentation. A phlebotomy technician collects a blood sample and sends it to the hospital clinical laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs the technical assay using an enzymatic method to quantify blood alcohol (ethanol) concentration; the test excludes breath or urine specimens. Results are routed to the ordering emergency physician and documented in the electronic health record. The measured ethanol level informs clinical decisions such as airway protection, sedative dosing, observation duration, and discharge planning, and may be used for forensic or occupational reporting as required.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician interpretation or consultation portion, if applicable to the lab service reporting split technical/professional components (rare for automated lab tests). |
90 | Reference (Outside) Laboratory | When the specimen is sent to an outside/reference laboratory for testing and results are reported back to the ordering provider. |