Summary & Overview

CPT 87110: Culture and Identification of Chlamydia Species

CPT code 87110 covers microbiology culture procedures to identify Chlamydia species from any patient source. This laboratory-based diagnostic service is important for confirming chlamydial infection, guiding treatment decisions, and supporting public health surveillance of sexually transmitted infections. As a widely used lab code, 87110 has implications for laboratory workflow, billing practices, and clinical pathways that rely on accurate organism identification.

Key payers referenced in national coverage and reimbursement discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of how the code is defined, typical sites where the service is performed, and the clinical context in which it is ordered. The publication also summarizes common billing considerations, typical modifiers encountered in claims, and how 87110 interfaces with laboratory service lines.

This material provides concise benchmarks and policy context relevant to laboratory managers, coding professionals, and payers. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare87110CPTmicrobiologychlamydialaboratory-testinginfectious-diseaseculture-identificationclinical-labdiagnostic-testing

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 87110 describes a laboratory procedure in which the lab analyst performs a culture from any patient source and identifies any Chlamydia species. This service is a microbiology culture and organism identification focused on detecting Chlamydia organisms from clinical specimens.

Service type: Laboratory diagnostic testing — microbiology culture and identification

Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 24-year-old sexually active woman presents to a community sexual health clinic with dysuria and mucopurulent cervical discharge. The clinician collects endocervical swabs and orders microbiology testing for common sexually transmitted pathogens. In the laboratory, a clinical laboratory scientist performs a culture from the endocervical specimen specifically to isolate and identify Chlamydia species, using appropriate media and confirmatory identification methods (culture growth followed by immunofluorescence or nucleic acid amplification confirmation as required). Results are reported to the ordering provider and entered into the electronic medical record; positive results trigger public health reporting and partner notification per local regulations. Typical site of service for this procedure is an outpatient clinic, community health center, or hospital clinical laboratory where specimens are processed by trained laboratory personnel using standard microbiology techniques.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier — standard service	Use when no special modifier applies and the procedure is billed as routine laboratory culture and identification.
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the professional (interpretation) component separate from the technical component.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical component (laboratory processing) separate from the professional component.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use when the same test is repeated on the same day to obtain subsequent reliable result.
`90`	Reference laboratory	Use when the specimen is sent to an outside/reference laboratory for testing.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally described.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to patient condition or other immediate issues.
`59`*	Distinct procedural service (not in raw list)	Data not available in the input.
`91`	Duplicate listed; retained once — see above	See `91` above.
`62`	Two surgeons	Rarely applicable to lab procedures; used when two qualifying specialists perform portions of the service.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
261QM0800X	Medical Laboratory Technologist	Performs specimen processing and culture techniques in hospital or reference labs.
207Q00000X	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Clinicians who commonly collect endocervical specimens for chlamydia testing.
207RH0000X	Family Medicine	Primary care providers who order testing and manage sexually transmitted infections.
207L00000X	Internal Medicine	Providers in outpatient settings who may order laboratory STI testing.
3336C0001X	Public Health Laboratory	Laboratories involved in confirmatory testing and reporting to public health authorities.

*Note: Modifier 59 was included in many coding contexts but is not present in the provided raw modifier list; per instructions, do not add modifiers beyond those given. If a modifier is not in the raw input, it must not be used. Data not available in the input for 59.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`A56.0`	Chlamydial infection of lower genitourinary tract	Direct indication for Chlamydia culture and identification.
`A56.1`	Chlamydial infection of upper genitourinary tract (e.g., pelvic inflammatory disease)	Used when evaluating suspected ascending infection where identification of pathogen is required.
`N34.1`	Urethritis due to Chlamydia trachomatis	Common clinical presentation prompting chlamydia testing.
`N70.0`	Acute salpingitis and oophoritis	When pelvic inflammatory disease is suspected, chlamydia culture may be performed.
`Z11.3`	Encounter for screening for infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission	Screening context where chlamydia culture or NAAT may be ordered.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87110`	Culture, any other source, for Chlamydia species; identification of organisms	Primary procedure — laboratory culture and identification of Chlamydia species.
`87491`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Chlamydia trachomatis, amplified probe technique	Common alternative or adjunct test using NAAT for more rapid and sensitive detection; may be ordered instead of or in addition to culture.
`87210`	Smear, primary source with interpretation; Gram or Giemsa	May be performed on direct specimens as a rapid adjunct to identify cellular changes or organisms prior to culture.
`87140`	Bacterial identification; immunofluorescent antibody (direct)	Used for confirmatory identification of Chlamydia species from culture isolates.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen (example ancillary code)	Ancillary service codes or facility-specific specimen handling codes may be used by some institutions when applicable.