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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAntimicrobial Susceptibility StudiesCPT cpt-87184-antimicrobial-susceptibility-disk-diffusion
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    CPT 87184: Antimicrobial Susceptibility by Disk Diffusion (up to 12 agents)

    CPT code 87184 describes a laboratory antimicrobial susceptibility test performed by a lab analyst using the disk diffusion method to evaluate a culture isolate’s sensitivity to up to 12 specific antimicrobial agents; the service type is microbiology susceptibility testing and the typical site of service is a clinical microbiology laboratory or hospital laboratory where culture isolates are processed and tested.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease, Immunopharmacologic Monitoring of Therapeutic Serum Antibodies, Immune Cell Function Assay.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old male is admitted to the hospital with fever, dysuria, and flank pain. Urine culture grows a Gram-negative bacillus; the microbiology laboratory performs antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion to determine which antibiotics are effective. A laboratory technologist inoculates Mueller-Hinton agar with the isolate, places up to 12 antibiotic-impregnated disks on the plate, incubates, and measures zones of inhibition to report susceptibility results. Results guide the inpatient team’s antibiotic selection and may trigger an infection control consult if a multidrug-resistant organism is identified. Typical site of service is a hospital clinical microbiology laboratory or a freestanding diagnostic laboratory performing bacteriology and susceptibility testing. The service type is a microbiology laboratory technical procedure (antimicrobial susceptibility testing, disk diffusion) billed by the performing laboratory or hospital under the laboratory fee schedule.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87070Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolatesOften performed before susceptibility testing; isolates obtained from primary culture are forwarded for 87184.
    87086Culture, urine; quantitative, colony count, isolation and presumptive identification of isolatesUrine culture that yields the isolate which then undergoes susceptibility testing with 87184.
    87210Smear, primary source, interpretation by laboratory, when performedMay be performed on primary specimen during initial workup prior to culture and susceptibility testing.
    87491Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (e.g., rapid molecular)Molecular identification tests may be used adjunctively; culture-based susceptibility (87184) provides phenotypic antibiotic sensitivity.
    87181Antimicrobial susceptibility; screen for single agent, e.g., ESBL screenRelated susceptibility procedures that test for specific resistance mechanisms or single-agent screens prior to full panel 87184.

    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…
    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…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    163W00000X
    2080P0208X
    124Q00000X
    246ZB0500X
    229N00000X
    193200000X
    163WX0200X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.51Sepsis due to Escherichia coli [E. coli]
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    A49.9Bacterial infection, unspecified
    A54.89Other gonococcal infections
    A56.09Other chlamydial infection of lower genitourinary tract
    B20Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
    B95.61Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    G00.9Bacterial meningitis, unspecified
    H66.91Otitis media, unspecified, right ear
    J01.90Acute sinusitis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Immunopharmacologic Monitoring of Therapeutic Serum AntibodiesOscar Health2026-10-01
    Immune Cell Function AssayOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarker Testing for Autoimmune Rheumatic DiseaseBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Inflammatory Conditions - Orencia Intravenous Preferred Specialty Management Policy for Legacy Prescription Drug ListsCigna2026-09-01
    Secukinumab (Cosentyx) — intravenous (Medicare Advantage)blue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-01
    Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) — indications and authorization criteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-28
    Infliximab Intravenous Products Preferred Specialty Management PolicyCigna2026-08-15
    Kineret (anakinra) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-14
    Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b) — Prior Authorization and Coverage Criteriameridian_health_plan_of_michigan2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-87181-ANTIMICROBIAL-SUSCEPTIBILITY-GRADIENT-DIFFUSION-TEST

    CPT 87181: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test, Gradient Diffusion

    CPT-87182-MULTIPLEX-CARBAPENEMASE-IMMUNOASSAY

    CPT 87182: Multiplex Carbapenemase Immunoassay

    CPT-87183-CARBAPENEM-RESISTANCE-GENE-DETECTION-PER-ISOLATE

    CPT 87183: Detection of Carbapenem Resistance Genes, Per Isolate

    CPT-87185-ANTIMICROBIAL-ENZYME-DETECTION-SUSCEPTIBILITY-TEST

    CPT 87185: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Enzyme Detection

    CPT-87186-ANTIMICROBIAL-SUSCEPTIBILITY-TESTING-DILUTION-METHODS

    CPT 87186: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing by Dilution Methods

    CPT-87187-MLC-ANTIMICROBIAL-SUSCEPTIBILITY-TESTING

    CPT 87187: Minimum Lethal Concentration (Antimicrobial Susceptibility)

    CPT-87188-ANTIMICROBIAL-SUSCEPTIBILITY-MACROBROTH-DILUTION

    CPT 87188: Macrobroth Dilution Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test

    CPT-87190-MYCOBACTERIA-PROPORTION-METHOD-SUSCEPTIBILITY-TESTING

    CPT 87190: Mycobacteria Susceptibility Testing, Proportion Method

    CPT-87197-BACTERIAL-TITER-ANTIBIOTIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY

    CPT 87197: Bacterial Titer for Antibiotic Susceptibility

    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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