CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

CPT code 87206 describes a technical laboratory procedure for microscopic examination using a fluorescent stain, an acid-fast stain, or both to detect bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, or specific cell types; this is a microbiology/microscopy diagnostic test typically performed as a laboratory technical service in a clinical laboratory or hospital pathology lab setting.

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CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A patient presents to an outpatient or hospital laboratory with signs or symptoms suggesting infectious organisms or abnormal cells requiring microscopic identification. Typical scenarios include a hospitalized adult with persistent cough and suspected pulmonary tuberculosis where sputum specimens are submitted for acid-fast staining, an emergency department patient with suspected bacterial meningitis whose cerebrospinal fluid is sent for fluorescent or Gram/fluorescent stain to look for bacteria or fungi, or an outpatient dermatology clinic sending a skin scraping to the lab to evaluate for fungal elements with fluorescent stain. The clinical workflow: a clinician collects an appropriate specimen (sputum, CSF, urine, wound swab, tissue, skin scraping), labels and routes it to the clinical microbiology or pathology laboratory. A laboratory technologist/process analyst performs the technical staining procedure using fluorescent stain and/or acid-fast stain techniques, prepares slides, examines under a microscope, documents findings, and reports results to the ordering provider. Results guide further testing (culture, molecular tests) and immediate clinical decisions such as isolation for acid-fast organisms or empiric antimicrobial therapy.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87205`	Smear, primary source with interpretation; Gram or Giemsa stain for bacteria, fungi, or cell types (except fluorescent stain)	Alternative or complementary microscopic smears; may be ordered when fluorescent stain is not used or in addition to provide morphology.
`87207`	Smear, primary source with interpretation; fluorescent antibody technique for identification of specific organisms	Performed when organism-specific fluorescent antibody testing is required after or instead of general fluorescent/acid-fast stains.
`87070`	Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine	Often performed following an abnormal stain suggesting bacterial infection to identify organism and susceptibilities.
`88112`	Cytopathology, cell block with non-gynecologic source, microscopic examination	May follow when cellular atypia is suspected on stained preparations requiring further cytologic evaluation.
`87471`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (e.g., amplified probe technique)	Molecular testing often follows an initial positive or suspicious stain to confirm specific pathogens.

Related Modifiers

5 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…
91	Modifier 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…
90	Modifier ‑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…
52	Modifier ‑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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
163WX0106X	Occupational Health Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
146N00000X	Basic Emergency Medical Technician	A Basic EMT is an individual trained and certified to perform basic life support treatment in medical emergencies based on individual state boards.
251X00000X	Supports Brokerage Agency	A provider of service/function that assists participating individuals to make informed decisions about what will work best for them is consistent with…
261QP2000X	Physical Therapy Clinic/Center	An entity, facility, or distinct part of a facility providing diagnostic and treatment services related to physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy i…
207PP0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine) Physician	Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a clinical subspecialty that focuses on the care of the acutely ill or injured child in the setting of an emergency de…
2279H0200X	Home Health Registered Respiratory Therapist	Home care fosters individual responsibility for self-management of chronic respiratory conditions. It includes individualized assessment based plans …
374K00000X	Religious Nonmedical Practitioner	A religious nonmedical practitioner offers spiritually-based care. Services may be rendered in an office, home, or care facility or by phone, email, …
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…

CPT 87205: Gram or Giemsa Stain with Interpretation

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.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.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.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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87205`	Smear, primary source with interpretation; Gram or Giemsa stain for bacteria, fungi, or cell types (except fluorescent stain)	Alternative or complementary microscopic smears; may be ordered when fluorescent stain is not used or in addition to provide morphology.
`87207`	Smear, primary source with interpretation; fluorescent antibody technique for identification of specific organisms	Performed when organism-specific fluorescent antibody testing is required after or instead of general fluorescent/acid-fast stains.
`87070`	Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine	Often performed following an abnormal stain suggesting bacterial infection to identify organism and susceptibilities.
`88112`	Cytopathology, cell block with non-gynecologic source, microscopic examination	May follow when cellular atypia is suspected on stained preparations requiring further cytologic evaluation.
`87471`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (e.g., amplified probe technique)	Molecular testing often follows an initial positive or suspicious stain to confirm specific pathogens.

Related Modifiers

5 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…
91	Modifier 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…
90	Modifier ‑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…
52	Modifier ‑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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
163WX0106X	Occupational Health Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
146N00000X	Basic Emergency Medical Technician	A Basic EMT is an individual trained and certified to perform basic life support treatment in medical emergencies based on individual state boards.
251X00000X	Supports Brokerage Agency	A provider of service/function that assists participating individuals to make informed decisions about what will work best for them is consistent with…
261QP2000X	Physical Therapy Clinic/Center	An entity, facility, or distinct part of a facility providing diagnostic and treatment services related to physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy i…
207PP0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine) Physician	Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a clinical subspecialty that focuses on the care of the acutely ill or injured child in the setting of an emergency de…
2279H0200X	Home Health Registered Respiratory Therapist	Home care fosters individual responsibility for self-management of chronic respiratory conditions. It includes individualized assessment based plans …
374K00000X	Religious Nonmedical Practitioner	A religious nonmedical practitioner offers spiritually-based care. Services may be rendered in an office, home, or care facility or by phone, email, …
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…

CPT 87205: Gram or Giemsa Stain with Interpretation

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.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.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.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.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

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CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

References

CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

Sign up for cpt 87206 policy alerts

CPT 87206: Fluorescent/Acid-Fast Stain Microscopy

Sign up for cpt 87206 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

What clinical situations commonly prompt use of CPT 87206?

Who performs the procedure described by CPT 87206 and where is it performed?

How does CPT 87206 relate to other laboratory tests or CPT codes?

What diagnoses are commonly associated with use of CPT 87206?

Is CPT 87206 covered by Medicare according to the page data?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

What clinical situations commonly prompt use of CPT 87206?

Who performs the procedure described by CPT 87206 and where is it performed?

How does CPT 87206 relate to other laboratory tests or CPT codes?

What diagnoses are commonly associated with use of CPT 87206?

Is CPT 87206 covered by Medicare according to the page data?

References