Summary & Overview
CPT 82679: Estrone Hormone Assay
CPT code 82679 represents a clinical laboratory test that quantifies estrone, an estrogen measured in both men and women. Estrone testing is clinically relevant for evaluating postmenopausal estrogen status, investigating suspected hormone-producing tumors of the ovaries, testicles, or adrenals, and guiding endocrine workups. Nationally, estrone assays are part of specialized endocrine and oncology laboratory panels and can influence diagnostic pathways and subsequent care decisions.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for 82679, typical sites of service, and the payer mix considered. The publication summarizes common billing modifiers used with laboratory tests, highlights coding relationships, and outlines the clinical scenarios in which estrone measurement is often ordered. It also provides benchmark and policy context where available and notes when input data is not provided. This summary is intended to inform billing staff, laboratory managers, and policy analysts about the clinical role and payer landscape for CPT code 82679 at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82679 describes a laboratory assay that measures estrone levels in a biological sample from a male or female. Estrone is a moderately potent estrogen and is the primary circulating estrogen in women after menopause. Measurement of estrone is performed for clinical indications that include evaluation of suspected hormone-secreting tumors of the ovaries, testicles, or adrenal glands, or other endocrine assessments.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory hormone assay
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (specimen collected in an outpatient clinic or inpatient setting as clinically indicated)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old postmenopausal woman presents to a gynecologic oncology clinic with new-onset pelvic pain and an adnexal mass on pelvic ultrasound. The ordering clinician requests serum estrone measurement to help assess estrogenic activity and aid in the evaluation of a possible ovarian neoplasm. Blood is drawn in the outpatient laboratory; the specimen is labeled and sent to the hospital clinical chemistry laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs 82679 using an appropriate immunoassay or mass spectrometry method, documents the assay run, quality controls, and reports the estrone concentration to the electronic medical record. Results are reviewed by the ordering clinician to correlate with imaging, tumor markers, and clinical examination. Similar workflows occur for male patients being evaluated for testicular or adrenal tumors, and for women being assessed for hormonal status after surgical or radiation therapies.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional component of a lab test if separated from the technical component. |
TC |