Summary & Overview
CPT 87015: Specimen Concentration for Infectious Agent Examination
CPT code 87015 denotes a laboratory concentration procedure used to examine or test a specimen for an infectious agent. This code captures a specialized laboratory technique that increases sensitivity for detecting pathogens, and it is important across clinical laboratories, hospital labs, and public health testing. Accurate coding of 87015 supports appropriate billing for diagnostic workflows that rely on concentration methods to identify infectious organisms.
Key national payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the role of the code in diagnostic testing pathways. The publication also summarizes common billing modifiers associated with laboratory services, outlines expected documentation elements, and highlights where data was not available in the input.
This summary is intended for billing managers, laboratory directors, and policy analysts seeking a clear, national-level reference for CPT code 87015. It provides operational clarity on what the code represents and what to expect when it appears on a laboratory service line.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 87015 describes a concentration procedure performed by a laboratory analyst to examine or test a specimen for an infectious agent. This service involves laboratory concentration techniques to enhance detection of pathogens in clinical specimens.
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Service type: Laboratory infectious-agent concentration and examination
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old immunocompetent outpatient presents to an urgent care clinic with three days of watery diarrhea and abdominal cramping after recent travel. A stool specimen is collected and sent to the laboratory for evaluation of enteric pathogens. The clinical laboratory receives the specimen and the microbiology technologist performs a concentration procedure to improve detection of ova, cysts, and parasites and to increase sensitivity for low-titer infectious agents prior to microscopic examination and specific testing. The workflow includes specimen accessioning, concentration (for example, formalin-ethyl acetate or other sedimentation/centrifugation techniques), preparation of wet mounts and stained slides, microscopic review, and reflex testing if organisms are seen (such as antigen testing or molecular assays). Results are reported to the ordering clinician for diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional interpretation/time by the laboratory director or pathologist if separated from technical work |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the concentration procedure is partially completed or limited in scope |