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    OpenPayerBilling CodesExamination, Homogenization and Concentration ProceduresCPT cpt-87176-tissue-homogenization-for-culture-preparation
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    CPT 87176: Tissue Homogenization for Culture Preparation

    CPT code 87176 describes a laboratory technical procedure in which a lab analyst homogenizes tissue to create a uniform specimen for microbiologic culture; this is a specimen preparation service performed in clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory settings to prepare tissue samples for culture processing and downstream microbiology testing.

    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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    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult presenting to an emergency department, outpatient clinic, or surgical service with a suspected soft tissue infection or a sterile surgical specimen requiring microbiologic culture. A surgeon or bedside clinician collects a tissue specimen (e.g., soft tissue biopsy, wound debridement tissue, excised abscess capsule) and places it in an appropriate transport container. The specimen is sent to the clinical microbiology laboratory where a laboratory analyst performs 87176 — the technical step of homogenizing the tissue to create a uniform specimen suitable for inoculation onto culture media or for molecular testing. The workflow includes specimen receipt, verification, gross processing (including trimming and weighing if required), mechanical or enzymatic homogenization, aliquoting, and transfer to culture plates, enrichment broths, or molecular assay platforms. Results support identification of infectious organisms and direct antimicrobial therapy decisions; turnaround time varies with culture method and organism growth characteristics.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87070Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, anaerobic culture (single)Often performed after homogenization to inoculate culture media for bacterial growth from tissue specimens.
    87140Culture, fungal, any sourceUsed when homogenized tissue is submitted for fungal culture.
    87205Smear, primary source with interpretation; Gram or equivalent stainingPerformed on homogenized tissue material to provide rapid preliminary organism characterization.
    87631Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Group A StreptococcusMolecular testing that may be performed on homogenized tissue aliquots when rapid organism identification is required.
    87077Culture for presumptive identification, urine; aerobic, bacterialData not available in the input.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    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
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    207ND0900X
    341800000X
    207WX0108X
    207PS0010X
    2080P0204X
    225XE0001X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A20.2Pneumonic plague
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    A49.01Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
    A49.9Bacterial infection, unspecified
    A54.89Other gonococcal infections
    A56.09Other chlamydial infection of lower genitourinary tract
    B95.61Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B96.89Other specified bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    G00.9Bacterial meningitis, unspecified
    H66.91Otitis media, unspecified, right ear

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    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-87168-ARTHROPOD-IDENTIFICATION-MACROSCOPIC-EXAM

    CPT 87168: Arthropod Identification, Direct Examination

    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-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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