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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesChemistry ProceduresCPT cpt-83015-heavy-metal-identification-qualitative
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    CPT 83015: Qualitative Heavy Metal Identification Test

    CPT code 83015 describes a qualitative laboratory test that detects the presence and identifies the type of heavy metals in blood, urine, or other body substances; the service is a toxicology/clinical chemistry identification test typically performed in a clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting and used when confirmation of metal exposure or identification of the specific metal (without quantification) is required.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Salivary Hormone Testing, Bone Turnover Markers Testing, Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium Testing.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A middle-aged adult presents to an urgent care clinic with acute gastrointestinal upset and a history of potential occupational exposure to industrial solvents. The clinician orders screening testing for heavy metals after the patient reports working in an older battery recycling facility and notes persistent fatigue and intermittent abdominal pain. A phlebotomy technician collects a blood specimen and sends it to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory performs a qualitative heavy metal panel to detect the presence and identity of heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) but does not quantify concentrations. Results are reported to the ordering clinician; positive qualitative identification typically prompts confirmatory quantitative testing (e.g., blood lead level or urine arsenic quantitation), occupational health notification if indicated, and documentation in the patient’s medical record. Typical turnaround time is variable depending on laboratory capacity and method; testing may be performed at hospital labs or reference laboratories. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient laboratory, independent clinical laboratory, urgent care clinics with specimen transport, and public health laboratories.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    83655Lead; blood, qualitative (presence or absence)Qualitative lead screening is sometimes paired with broader heavy metal identifications or used as a follow-up qualitative test.
    82043Heavy metal, qualitative (screen), any number of metals, performed on blood, urine, or other body fluids, non-quantitativeClosely related qualitative heavy metal screen; may be used in some settings as an alternative or companion assay.
    82042Lead, blood, quantitativeUsed for confirmatory testing when a qualitative screen identifies lead; provides concentration for clinical management.
    83655Blood lead level, qualitativeUsed in workflow when specific qualitative lead testing is needed prior to quantitative testing (duplicate of 83655 above).
    82310Arsenic, blood or urine, quantitativePerformed after qualitative identification of arsenic to determine exposure level and guide treatment.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207Q00000XFamily Medicine PhysicianFamily Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    273R00000XPsychiatric Hospital UnitIn general, a distinct unit of a hospital that provides acute or long-term care to emotionally disturbed patients, including patients admitted for dia…
    246QH0600XHistology Specialist/TechnologistTechnologists, Technicians & Other Technical Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist, Pathology
    2083S0010XSports Medicine (Preventive Medicine) PhysicianA preventive medicine physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sports related conditions and injuries.
    207T00000XNeurological Surgery PhysicianA neurological surgeon provides the operative and non-operative management (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and reh…
    225XF0002XFeeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational TherapistOccupational therapists provide interventions to clients of all ages with feeding, eating and swallowing difficulties. Occupational therapists provid…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    G40.909Epilepsy, unspecified, not intractable, without status epilepticus
    R63.5Abnormal weight gain
    R78.81Bacteremia
    T56.0X1AToxic effect of lead and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
    T56.0X2AToxic effect of lead and its compounds, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
    T56.1X1AToxic effect of mercury and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
    T56.1X2AToxic effect of mercury and its compounds, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
    T56.2X1AToxic effect of chromium and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
    T56.2X2AToxic effect of chromium and its compounds, intentional self-harm, initial encounter

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testosterone — Coverage Criteria for Measurement and MonitoringOscar Health2026-10-01
    Thyroid Disease TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-82009-KETONE-BODIES-QUALITATIVE-TEST

    CPT 82009: Qualitative Ketone Bodies Test

    CPT-82010-QUANTITATIVE-KETONE-BODIES-ASSAY-SERUM-PLASMA

    CPT 82010: Quantitative Ketone Bodies in Serum or Plasma

    CPT-82013-ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE-QUANTITATIVE-ASSAY

    CPT 82013: Quantitative Acetylcholinesterase (Acetylhydrolase) Assay

    CPT-82016-QUALITATIVE-ACYLCARNITINES-METABOLIC-SCREEN

    CPT 82016: Qualitative Acylcarnitines, Plasma/Serum/Urine

    CPT-82017-QUANTITATIVE-ACYLCARNITINE-ANALYSIS

    CPT 82017: Quantitative Acylcarnitine Analysis

    CPT-82024-QUANTITATIVE-CORTICOTROPIN-ACTH-ASSAY

    CPT 82024: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Quantitative Assay

    CPT-82030-QUANTITATIVE-CAMP-PLASMA-URINE-ASSAY

    CPT 82030: Quantitative cyclic AMP assay on plasma or urine

    CPT-82040-QUANTITATIVE-ALBUMIN-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 82040: Quantitative Albumin Measurement

    CPT-82042-QUANTITATIVE-ALBUMIN-NONBLOOD-FLUID

    CPT 82042: Albumin Quantitation in Non-Blood Body Fluid

    CPT-82043-URINE-ALBUMIN-QUANTITATION-KIDNEY-DISEASE

    CPT 82043: Urine Albumin Quantitative Assay

    Showing 1–10 of 411

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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