Summary & Overview
CPT 82239: Total Bile Acids Serum Analysis
CPT code 82239 represents a clinical laboratory analysis for total bile acids, performed primarily on serum to evaluate bile acid production, storage, and secretion related to hepatic and biliary function. Nationally, this assay supports diagnosis and monitoring of hepatobiliary disorders, cholestasis, and metabolic conditions affecting fat digestion. The code is relevant to laboratories, clinicians in hepatology and gastroenterology, and payers that cover diagnostic testing.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for the test, typical sites of service, and what the code represents. The publication also outlines common modifiers associated with laboratory billing (input provided) and identifies where input data is not available.
This summary prepares readers to interpret benchmarking and policy content elsewhere in the publication, including reimbursement considerations and common billing practices for laboratory services. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82239 describes an analysis performed by a laboratory analyst to measure total bile acids, typically using a serum sample. Total bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and secreted into the intestine to aid fat emulsification and digestion. This test assesses bile acid concentrations in blood and can aid evaluation of hepatobiliary function and disorders of bile acid metabolism.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory biochemical analysis of serum for total bile acids
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 46-year-old patient with a history of cholestatic liver disease presents to outpatient hepatology for evaluation of persistent pruritus and elevated alkaline phosphatase. The hepatologist orders a serum total bile acids assay to quantify circulating bile acids as part of workup for intrahepatic cholestasis and to monitor response to medical therapy. Blood is drawn in the clinic phlebotomy area; the specimen is labeled and sent to the clinical laboratory. The lab analyst performs 82239 on the serum sample using a validated biochemical or enzymatic assay. Results are returned to the ordering clinician through the electronic medical record and used along with liver function tests, imaging, and clinical findings to guide diagnosis and management, such as confirming impaired bile acid excretion, evaluating for bile acid malabsorption, or monitoring treatment effect in cholestasis of pregnancy or primary biliary cholangitis.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation or oversight portion, if applicable to laboratory consultative services. |
59 |