Summary & Overview
CPT 83700: Lipoprotein Electrophoresis and Lipid Particle Measurement
CPT code 83700 denotes lipoprotein electrophoresis, a laboratory test that separates and measures blood lipoprotein particles to characterize lipid disorders. This assay supports diagnosis and monitoring of dyslipidemias and certain metabolic or genetic lipid abnormalities. Nationally, the code matters for laboratory billing, clinical workflow for lipid evaluation, and payer coverage determinations for advanced lipid testing.
Key payers considered in this context include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose of the test, typical sites of service where the procedure is performed, common modifiers used in billing, and how the code is categorized within laboratory service lines.
The publication provides benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where available, summarizes relevant policy and coverage considerations affecting laboratory claims, and situates the test within clinical workflows for lipid assessment. Data not provided in the input are noted as unavailable. The content is intended for national audiences including billing professionals, laboratory managers, and policy analysts seeking clear guidance on the role and billing context of CPT code 83700.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 83700 measures the concentration and distribution of blood lipoproteins using electrophoresis to separate lipoprotein particles. This laboratory procedure is used to evaluate lipid-related disorders by isolating lipoprotein fractions for quantitative analysis.
Service Type: Clinical laboratory testing — lipoprotein electrophoresis
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (ambulatory or inpatient specimen processing)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 48-year-old individual referred to the clinical laboratory by their primary care provider or cardiologist for detailed lipoprotein fractionation due to unexplained dyslipidemia, a strong family history of premature coronary artery disease, or abnormal routine lipid panel results (for example, elevated total cholesterol with unclear pattern). The physician orders 83700 (lipoprotein electrophoresis) to separate and quantify major lipoprotein classes and subfractions to clarify the patient’s atherogenic risk profile.
A standard workflow: the patient presents to an ambulatory phlebotomy station or hospital outpatient laboratory for venipuncture. A serum or plasma specimen is collected in the appropriate tube, labeled, and sent to the clinical chemistry/molecular diagnostics area. The laboratory analyst performs electrophoretic separation of lipoproteins, documents quality controls, interprets the banding pattern and quantitative results, and generates a report routed to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient laboratories, independent clinical reference laboratories, and large ambulatory clinic laboratories. Results are used by clinicians to guide risk stratification, genetic evaluation, or targeted lipid-lowering strategies.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |