Summary & Overview

CPT 82941: Serum Gastrin Assay, Gastric Acidity Evaluation

CPT code 82941 represents a serum gastrin assay used to measure circulating gastrin levels. This laboratory test is clinically important for evaluating disorders of gastric acidity and conditions involving the duodenum, such as peptic ulcer disease or gastrinoma. As a commonly ordered specialized chemistry test, it factors into diagnostic workflows for gastroenterology and endocrinology nationally.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical role of the test, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape relevant to laboratory reimbursement and coverage. The publication summarizes available national benchmarks where present, highlights notable policy or coverage considerations affecting laboratory testing reimbursement, and provides clinical context that explains when clinicians order the assay.

This resource is intended to inform billing staff, laboratory managers, and policy analysts about the purpose and healthcare settings for CPT code 82941, and to frame subsequent sections on benchmarking, claims edits, and payer-specific coverage language. Data not available in the input will be noted in the relevant sections.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare82941CPTlaboratorygastrinserum assaygastroenterologyclinical chemistrydiagnostic testing

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 82941 describes a laboratory measurement of gastrin level in serum. The test quantifies circulating gastrin to evaluate conditions related to gastric acidity and disorders of the duodenum.

Service type: Clinical laboratory testing (serum assay)
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient laboratory, independent clinical laboratory, or outpatient clinic laboratory

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 52-year-old patient presents to an outpatient gastroenterology clinic with recurrent peptic ulcer disease symptoms, intermittent upper abdominal pain, and persistent diarrhea. The gastroenterologist suspects Zollinger–Ellison syndrome or other causes of hypergastrinemia and orders a fasting serum gastrin test to quantify gastrin levels. The clinical workflow: the patient fasts overnight; a phlebotomy draw is performed in the clinic or outpatient laboratory; the serum sample is labeled and sent to the clinical chemistry laboratory; the laboratory analyst performs measurement of gastrin concentration (CPT 82941) and reports results into the electronic health record. Results are reviewed by the ordering provider to guide further testing (e.g., secretin stimulation test, imaging for gastrinoma) and management. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinic, hospital outpatient laboratory, and independent clinical laboratories. Common clinical indications include evaluation of refractory peptic ulcer disease, suspected gastrinoma/Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, unexplained hyperacidity, and evaluation of persistent diarrhea with suspicion for secretory causes.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the physician interpretation component if separate from the laboratory technical processing.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when reporting only the laboratory technical component if the facility bills separately from the interpreting provider.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use for repeat measurement on a separate specimen to confirm unexpected or critical gastrin results.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the specimen is sent to an outside reference laboratory for testing.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when an unrelated, separate service is performed on the same day and requires distinct reporting.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the test is partially reduced or not performed to full protocol.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if specimen collection or testing was started but discontinued for documented reasons.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for the test, documented and justified.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room	Generally not applicable for this lab test but included when a procedural context requires return to procedure room and labs are part of that encounter.
`90`	Duplicate entry suppressed since `90` already listed	Duplicate modifier; not repeated here.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RC0000X	Gastroenterology	Ordering providers commonly include gastroenterologists evaluating peptic ulcer disease and gastrinoma.
207P00000X	Pediatrics (Gastroenterology)	Pediatric gastroenterologists may order gastrin testing for children with severe reflux or unexplained ulcers.
207Q00000X	General Surgery	Surgeons involved in management of gastrinomas may order or review gastrin levels.
207L00000X	Internal Medicine	Internists or hospitalists may order gastrin testing in inpatient evaluations.
363LP0808X	Clinical Laboratory	Laboratory personnel perform and bill the technical component of the assay.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K27.9`	Peptic ulcer, site unspecified, without perforation or bleeding	Peptic ulcer disease refractory to treatment can prompt gastrin testing to evaluate for acid hypersecretion.
`K29.70`	Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding	Chronic gastritis may alter acid secretion and trigger evaluation including gastrin level in select cases.
`R10.9`	Unspecified abdominal pain	Non-specific abdominal pain can lead to broad workup including gastrin when ulcers or hyperacidity are suspected.
`R19.7`	Diarrhea, unspecified	Secretory diarrhea from gastrin-secreting tumors can cause persistent diarrhea prompting gastrin measurement.
`C7A.099`	Malignant neuroendocrine tumors of other digestive organs and peritoneum	Suspected or known gastrinomas (gastrin-secreting neuroendocrine tumors) are a primary indication for `CPT 82941`.
`E16.2`	Hypoglycemia, unspecified	Included when endocrine tumors or syndromes produce varied hormonal effects; part of broader endocrine evaluation.
`E34.8`	Other endocrine disorders	Used when unspecified endocrine abnormalities prompt measurement of gastrin among other hormones.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`80053`	Comprehensive metabolic panel	Often ordered concurrently to evaluate electrolyte, hepatic, and renal status when assessing gastrointestinal pathology and before advanced testing.
`80061`	Lipid panel	Occasionally ordered as part of broader metabolic evaluation; not specific but performed during general workups.
`83970`	Insulin assay	May be ordered in differential workup of endocrine causes of gastrointestinal symptoms when evaluating endocrine tumors.
`82120`	Amylase	Ordered when abdominal pain or pancreatitis is in the differential diagnosis alongside gastrin-related disorders.
`80500`	Renin or aldosterone (each)	Endocrine testing that can be part of broader hormonal evaluations; ordered selectively when endocrine neoplasia is suspected.
`CPT 82941`	Gastrin; quantitative	The primary laboratory test measuring serum gastrin concentration; used to detect hypergastrinemia and guide further diagnostic steps.