Summary & Overview
CPT 82157: Androstenedione Quantitative Assay
CPT code 82157 denotes a quantitative laboratory assay for the androgenic hormone androstenedione. The test assists clinicians in diagnosing and characterizing hyperandrogenic states and adrenal disorders by measuring circulating androstenedione produced primarily by the adrenal glands and gonads. Nationally, this assay is a targeted endocrine laboratory service used in reproductive endocrinology, pediatric endocrinology, and adult metabolic evaluations.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for when the test is used, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape addressed in the publication. The report summarizes common billing practices and modifiers, presents available benchmark perspectives where applicable, and outlines relevant policy and coverage considerations for laboratories and clinicians.
This summary is written for a national audience and focuses on the clinical role of the assay, how it fits into endocrine workups, and the payer mix most likely to encounter claims for this service. Data not available in the input is identified explicitly in the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82157 measures the quantitative level of the androgenic hormone androstenedione in a patient's blood. Androstenedione testing supports the clinical workup for hyperandrogenism (excess androgen) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, helping clinicians evaluate adrenal and gonadal contributions to androgen excess.
Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test — quantitative hormone assay
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old cisgender female presents to an endocrinology clinic with a 6-month history of irregular menses, acne, and increasing facial hair. The clinician performs a focused history and physical exam, orders baseline laboratory testing to evaluate for hyperandrogenism, and collects a blood specimen for measurement of serum androstenedione. The blood draw occurs in an outpatient phlebotomy clinic or hospital outpatient lab. The specimen is processed in the clinical laboratory by an analyst who performs a quantitative assay for androstenedione (CPT 82157) to help distinguish ovarian versus adrenal sources of excess androgens and to aid in the workup of suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia, polycystic ovary syndrome, or adrenal neoplasm. The laboratory result is reviewed by the ordering clinician and incorporated into the diagnostic assessment, with additional hormonal tests ordered as needed (for example, testosterone, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone) and imaging if an adrenal or ovarian source is suspected.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation portion of a test when applicable (limited relevance for standalone lab analyte testing). |