Summary & Overview
CPT 82310: Serum Calcium Measurement
CPT code 82310 represents a laboratory assay for total serum calcium and is a common clinical chemistry test with broad national relevance. Measuring serum calcium is essential for diagnosing and monitoring disorders of calcium metabolism, including hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia, and for managing patients with renal disease, parathyroid disorders, and certain malignancies. As a frequently ordered lab test, 82310 drives laboratory utilization and influences outpatient and inpatient laboratory workflows.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for the test, typical sites of service where the assay is performed, and common operational considerations for billing and claim processing. The publication summarizes benchmarks and payment policy elements relevant to clinical laboratories and hospital labs, highlights coding and documentation priorities for accurate claims submission, and outlines where to look for payer-specific coverage and reimbursement guidance. Data not available in the input for specific payer rates, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, and related codes.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82310 reports a laboratory measurement of calcium level, performed primarily on a serum sample. The service is a clinical laboratory test used to assess total serum calcium concentration, commonly ordered to evaluate metabolic, endocrine, renal, or parathyroid conditions.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory test (serum calcium measurement)
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory; specimen collected in an outpatient clinic, inpatient setting, or phlebotomy center
Data not available in the input for payers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 55-year-old adult presenting to an outpatient clinic for routine metabolic monitoring after initiation of a thiazide diuretic and vitamin D supplementation. The clinician orders a serum calcium assay to evaluate for hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia due to medication effects, primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, or metabolic bone disease. The patient has blood drawn by phlebotomy in the clinic or an affiliated lab; the serum sample is sent to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory technologist performs the 82310 serum calcium measurement using automated chemistry analyzers. Results are reported in mg/dL and routed to the ordering provider’s electronic health record. Abnormal results prompt clinician review and potential additional testing (e.g., albumin, ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone) or treatment adjustments.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation component if applicable to lab-developed or consultative testing workflows that separate technical and professional services. |
52 |