Summary & Overview
CPT 87143: Chromatographic Analysis for Organism Characterization
CPT code 87143 denotes chromatographic analysis—gas–liquid or high–pressure liquid chromatography—performed on a previously isolated and identified organism to achieve more specific taxonomic characterization (for example, to the type level). This laboratory procedure supports precise organism typing that can inform surveillance, epidemiology, and certain clinical and public health decisions, and it is increasingly relevant as molecular methods and targeted therapies expand.
Key national payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise briefing on how CPT code 87143 is defined, where the procedure is typically performed, and what services it represents.
Readers will learn: the clinical context and laboratory service line for CPT code 87143; common payer coverage patterns and coding considerations (high-level overview); typical settings where the test is billed; and available benchmarking or policy notes where applicable. Data not available in the input will be noted as such. The goal is to provide a clear, actionable reference for administrators, billing staff, and policy analysts seeking a national-level summary of this specialized microbiology procedure.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 87143 describes a laboratory analysis using gas–liquid chromatography or high–pressure liquid chromatography performed on a previously isolated and identified organism to further categorize it, for example to the taxonomic level of type. This service is a specialized microbiology identification procedure that refines organism characterization after initial isolation and identification.
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Service type: Specialized laboratory identification/characterization
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory performing advanced microbiology testing
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a hospitalized adult who has a bacterial isolate recovered from blood culture or a sterile site that requires further characterization to the type or strain level for epidemiology or treatment guidance. The microbiology laboratory receives a pure, previously identified organism (for example, a non-typhoidal Salmonella or a nosocomial Gram-negative bacillus) after culture and basic identification (Gram stain, biochemical testing, MALDI-TOF). The lab analyst performs chromatographic analysis using gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) or high–pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) on extracted cellular components or metabolites to subtype the organism. Clinical workflow: the patient sample is collected and cultured; initial organism identification and susceptibility testing are performed; the isolate is referred to a specialized lab bench or reference lab for 87143 chromatographic typing when taxonomic typing informs outbreak investigation, infection control, public health reporting, or targeted epidemiologic surveillance. Results are reported in the microbiology report and routed to the ordering clinician, infection prevention team, and, if required, public health authorities.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the professional interpretation component separate from the technical component for a lab performed reading or interpretation. |