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    OpenPayerBilling CodesExamination, Homogenization and Concentration ProceduresCPT cpt-87168-arthropod-identification-macroscopic-exam
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    CPT 87168: Arthropod Identification, Direct Examination

    CPT code 87168 describes direct microscopic-free identification of an arthropod associated with human disease (for example certain insects or spiders) performed by a laboratory analyst; this service is a clinical laboratory diagnostic procedure focused on organism identification and is typically performed in a hospital laboratory, public health lab, or reference laboratory setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policy, Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical Guideline, Non-Emergent Ambulance Services.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A patient presents to an outpatient urgent care or emergency department after being bitten or found in close contact with an arthropod (for example, a spider or insect) suspected of causing envenomation, local tissue reaction, or vector-borne disease. A clinician submits the captured arthropod to the clinical laboratory or public health lab for species identification. In the laboratory, a trained medical laboratory scientist or entomology technician performs a gross visual examination of the specimen without the use of a microscope to identify key morphological features and determine likely species or vector status. The workflow includes specimen receipt, visual inspection, documentation of visual characteristics and size, photographic documentation when appropriate, comparison to reference images or keys, and reporting results to the ordering clinician or public health authority. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, hospital emergency departments, and public health laboratories. The typical patient scenario: an adult presents with an acute localized painful lesion after a suspected brown recluse spider bite; the captured spider is placed in a sealed container and sent to the hospital laboratory for identification to guide clinical management and public health reporting. The service supports clinical decisions about antivenom, wound management, or vector-borne disease testing and may be billed when the laboratory performs identification without microscopy by a qualified analyst using CPT 87168.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87167With use of a microscope, the lab analyst examines an arthropod associated with human disease.Performed when microscopic examination is required; complements 87168 when higher magnification is necessary for identification.
    87070Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood, or stool, aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal cultures when indicated.May be ordered if secondary wound infection after an arthropod bite is suspected; follows initial arthropod identification.
    87449Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), amplified probe technique, multiple organisms; tick-borne pathogen panels (example).Molecular testing for vector-borne pathogens may be ordered after identification of a suspected vector species.
    87804Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay; adenovirus, respiratory.Represents antigen or rapid testing workflow conceptually similar when direct detection tests are indicated; selected as an analogous rapid diagnostic modality following identification.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen to off-site laboratory (example ancillary code).May apply when the specimen is transported to a reference lab for confirmatory identification or testing.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    1835S0206X
    204E00000X
    204D00000X
    385HR2065X
    225B00000X
    163WS0200X
    224ZF0002X
    2080T0002X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A46Erysipelas
    A48.1Legionnaires' disease
    A49.9Bacterial infection, unspecified
    B00.0Eczema herpeticum
    B00.9Herpesviral infection, unspecified
    B01.9Varicella without complication
    B02.9Zoster without complications
    B86Scabies
    H10.9Unspecified conjunctivitis
    J03.90Acute tonsillitis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-10-01
    Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Non-Emergent Ambulance ServicesConnectiCare2026-09-11
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceAmbetter Nevada2026-08-01
    Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceArizona Complete Health2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-87164-DARK-FIELD-MICROSCOPIC-EXAM-DIRECT-SPECIMEN

    CPT 87164: Dark-Field Microscopy of Direct Specimen

    CPT-87166-DARK-FIELD-MICROSCOPY-DIRECT-SPECIMEN

    CPT 87166: Dark-Field Microscopic Exam of Direct Specimen

    CPT-87169-PARASITOLOGY-MACROSCOPIC-EXAMINATION

    CPT 87169: Parasite Identification Without Microscope

    CPT-87172-PINWORM-ADHESIVE-TAPE-EXAMINATION

    CPT 87172: Pinworm Examination by Tape or Paddle

    CPT-87176-TISSUE-HOMOGENIZATION-FOR-CULTURE-PREPARATION

    CPT 87176: Tissue Homogenization for Culture Preparation

    CPT-87177-PARASITOLOGY-STOOL-CONCENTRATION-AND-OVA-EVALUATION

    CPT 87177: Stool Parasite and Ova Concentration and Microscopic Evaluation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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