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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesPrimary Source Smear ProceduresCPT cpt-87205-gram-giemsa-stain-primary-source
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    CPT 87205: Gram or Giemsa Stain with Interpretation

    CPT code 87205 describes a technical microscopic staining and interpretation for detection of bacteria, fungi, or cellular elements using a Gram or Giemsa stain performed on a primary clinical specimen; this is a laboratory diagnostic service typically provided in a clinical microbiology or pathology laboratory setting and reported when the analyst prepares and interprets the stained slide from the primary source.

    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

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 45-year-old adult presents to an urgent care clinic with a 2-day history of purulent eye discharge, eyelid swelling, and conjunctival erythema. A primary care physician performs an ocular surface swab at the bedside and sends a slide-prepared specimen to the laboratory for a Gram stain with interpretation to identify bacterial organisms and guide empiric therapy. The clinical workflow: specimen collection from the primary source (conjunctival swab), slide preparation and fixation in the clinic or outpatient lab, transport to the microbiology laboratory, technical staining by a laboratory analyst using Gram stain (or Giemsa stain when indicated), microscopic examination, documentation of organism morphology (gram-positive cocci in clusters vs gram-negative rods), and a written or electronic interpretive report returned to the ordering clinician for treatment decisions. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinic, urgent care, emergency department, and hospital laboratory when rapid organism morphology is required for initial management. This procedure is a technical laboratory test performed by a diagnostic laboratory analyst and includes interpretation documented in the laboratory report.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87070Culture, bacterial, any source, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identificationPerformed after Gram stain when growth is needed for definitive organism identification and susceptibility testing.
    87205Gram or Giemsa stain for bacteria, fungi, or cell types with interpretation (technical and interpretive)This is the primary service described; used for rapid morphologic assessment of organisms on primary specimens.
    87490Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (e.g., Streptococcus)May be performed alongside or instead of stain for rapid antigen detection depending on suspected pathogen.
    87210Smear, primary source with interpretation, e.g., KOH preparation or wet mountAlternative microscopic preparations for fungi or other organisms when indicated.
    87081Culture, urine, quantitative, colony countOften obtained when Gram stain suggests urinary pathogens and culture is needed for targeted therapy.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RG0100X
    207L00000X
    208000000X
    2080C0008X
    261QX0200X
    251J00000X
    2080P0216X
    163WA2000X

    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-87206-FLUORESCENT-ACID-FAST-STAIN-MICROSCOPY

    CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

    CPT-87207-SLIDE-ANALYSIS-FOR-INCLUSION-BODIES-PRIMARY-SOURCE

    CPT 87207: Slide Analysis for Inclusion Bodies

    CPT-87209-OVA-AND-PARASITE-COMPLEX-SPECIAL-STAIN

    CPT 87209: Complex Special Stain for Ova and Parasites

    CPT-87210-WET-MOUNT-PREPARATION-MICROSCOPY

    CPT 87210: Wet Mount Preparation and Microscopic Examination

    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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