Summary & Overview
CPT 83876: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) Quantitative Assay
CPT code 83876 represents a quantitative laboratory assay measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) in a patient specimen. MPO is an enzyme in neutrophils linked to inflammatory activity and has clinical relevance in cardiovascular risk assessment and inflammatory disease evaluation. As a clinical pathology service, the test is performed in hospital or commercial laboratories and is ordered by clinicians to inform diagnostic or risk-stratification decisions.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The content addresses national coverage considerations and operational benchmarks applicable across payers.
Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for MPO testing, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers, and payer list coverage. The publication summarizes what to expect in claims processing for this laboratory code and highlights areas where policy updates or variability across payers commonly occur. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 83876 reports laboratory measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme found in neutrophils, in a patient specimen. The procedure quantifies MPO concentration to assist clinical assessment of inflammatory states and cardiovascular risk markers.
Service Type: Laboratory test / Clinical pathology
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (ambulatory specimen collection or inpatient lab processing)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old male presents to the outpatient hematology clinic with complaints of recurrent sinus infections, persistent fatigue, and recent episodes of unexplained skin ulceration. Initial complete blood count shows neutrophilia with abnormal neutrophil function suspected. The ordering hematologist requests a myeloperoxidase (MPO) quantitative assay to evaluate neutrophil enzyme activity and to assist in differentiating neutrophil-driven inflammatory processes, certain forms of vasculitis, or suspected myeloperoxidase-associated autoimmune conditions.
Specimen collection is performed in the clinic by venipuncture into the appropriate tube (usually serum or plasma per laboratory protocol). The specimen is sent to the hospital clinical laboratory where a medical technologist or lab analyst performs the 83876 assay using immunoassay or enzymatic methods. Results are reported to the ordering clinician with interpretive comments if MPO levels are markedly elevated or decreased. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient laboratories, independent clinical laboratories, and large ambulatory clinic labs where specialized immunoassays are performed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when the physician provides interpretation and report separate from the technical laboratory component. |