Summary & Overview
CPT 82696: Etiocholanolone Steroid Metabolite Assay
CPT code 82696 identifies a laboratory assay for etiocholanolone, an androgenic steroid metabolite of testosterone. The test is a specialized clinical laboratory assay used historically in endocrine and metabolic evaluations but is now ordered infrequently as newer, more sensitive steroid assays have become available. Nationally, this code represents a niche diagnostic test that can appear on claims for complex endocrine assessments or metabolic workups.
Key payers discussed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for the assay, payer coverage considerations, and what to expect in terms of service setting and utilization. The publication summarizes benchmarks where available, highlights policy and coding nuances relevant to laboratory services, and places CPT code 82696 in the context of evolving laboratory practice as mass spectrometry and other sensitive assays have become preferred.
This summary is intended to provide clinicians, laboratory managers, and billing professionals with a concise briefing on the clinical role of CPT code 82696, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape relevant to national billing and coverage discussions. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82696 measures the level of etiocholanolone, an androgenic steroid metabolite derived from testosterone. This laboratory test quantifies etiocholanolone concentration in biological specimens to assess steroid metabolism and endocrine function. Laboratories report that this assay is now used infrequently because more current and sensitive assays have become available.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory test — steroid hormone/metabolite assay
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Typical site of service: Clinical diagnostic laboratory or hospital laboratory testing facility
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old male presents to endocrinology with persistent hirsutism, acne, and irregular libido changes after testosterone therapy. The clinician orders a specialized steroid profile including measurement of etiocholanolone to evaluate androgen metabolism and differentiate endogenous androgen excess from exogenous sources or altered steroidogenesis. A fasting or timed urine/serum specimen is collected per laboratory protocol; the specimen is labeled, shipped to a reference laboratory, and analyzed by mass spectrometry or gas chromatography when available. Results are reviewed by the endocrinologist to correlate etiocholanolone levels with clinical findings and other steroid assays to guide diagnostic interpretation and potential further endocrine testing.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician's interpretation of the laboratory result separate from the technical laboratory work. |
90 | Reference (outside) laboratory | Use when the specimen is sent to an outside reference lab for testing. |