Summary & Overview
CPT 82760: Galactose Quantitative Measurement, Serum/Plasma/Urine
CPT code 82760 designates a quantitative laboratory measurement of galactose in serum, plasma, or urine. This biochemical assay is clinically important for detecting and monitoring galactosemia, a metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme galactase that prevents normal conversion of galactose to glucose. Nationwide, accurate measurement of galactose supports newborn screening follow-up, diagnostic workups for unexplained jaundice or feeding intolerance, and ongoing metabolic disease management.
Key payers relevant to coverage and reimbursement include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical context, typical service setting, and the primary use cases that drive utilization. The publication also summarizes payer coverage patterns and benchmarking where available, highlights coding and billing considerations pertinent to laboratory services, and outlines common modifiers used with laboratory testing.
This analysis equips laboratory administrators, clinical coders, and policy analysts with a clear understanding of what CPT code 82760 represents, why it matters in clinical pathways for metabolic disorders, and what documentation and coding contexts commonly accompany galactose testing. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82760 reports a laboratory measurement of galactose in serum, plasma, or urine. The test quantifies the level of the simple sugar galactose, which is normally converted to glucose through enzymatic action; elevated levels can indicate galactosemia due to deficient galactase activity.
Service type: Clinical laboratory test — quantitative measurement of a metabolite (galactose)
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory; specimen collection may occur in outpatient clinics, hospital inpatient settings, or reference laboratory collection sites
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A newborn infant born to a term mother in the hospital nursery is noted to have jaundice and poor feeding on day two of life. The pediatrician orders newborn metabolic screening and specific laboratory testing to evaluate for inborn errors of metabolism, including measurement of serum galactose to assess for galactosemia. A blood sample is collected by the phlebotomy team and sent to the hospital clinical chemistry laboratory. A medical laboratory technologist or analyst performs 82760 to quantify galactose level in serum or plasma using enzymatic assay methods. Results are communicated in the electronic medical record to the pediatrician and the metabolic genetics team for diagnosis and treatment planning (eg, dietary elimination of lactose/galactose if positive). In older infants or children presenting with failure to thrive, vomiting, hepatomegaly, or cataracts, the same test may be ordered outpatient or inpatient to evaluate suspected galactosemia or to monitor response to dietary therapy. Typical site of service includes hospital inpatient laboratory, hospital outpatient laboratory, or independent clinical laboratory processing specimens received from ambulatory clinics or pediatrician offices.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the laboratory professional interpretation is reportable (rare for chemistry assays). |