Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesPrimary Source Smear ProceduresCPT cpt-87209-ova-and-parasite-complex-special-stain
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 87209: Complex Special Stain for Ova and Parasites

    CPT code 87209 describes performance and interpretation of a complex special stain on a primary source specimen (for example, stool) to detect parasite eggs and other ova and parasites; this is a laboratory pathology microbiology service typically performed in a clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting for the diagnostic evaluation of suspected parasitic infection.

    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.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 87209 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 87209 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 6

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A symptomatic outpatient presents with persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and intermittent low-grade fever after recent international travel. A stool specimen is collected in the clinic and sent to the laboratory. The clinical laboratory performs a complex special stain on the primary stool specimen to identify ova and parasites. The lab analyst prepares and processes the specimen, applies the stain method appropriate for helminth ova or protozoan cysts, examines microscopic slides, documents findings, and issues a report to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service include hospital laboratories, reference microbiology laboratories, and outpatient clinic or ambulatory surgical center labs that receive primary stool specimens for parasitology testing. Turnaround time depends on lab workflow and urgency; the test may be ordered concurrently with routine ova and parasite microscopy or as a targeted special stain when initial testing is inconclusive or specific organisms are suspected.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87209Special stain, complex, from primary source specimen (e.g., stool) for ova and parasites; performed and evaluated by the lab analystPrimary procedure described — complex special stain for detection of ova and parasites
    87045Culture, bacterial; feces, pathogenic organism (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter)Often ordered concurrently when evaluating infectious gastroenteritis alongside parasitology testing
    87210Microscopy, wet mount, simple, non-stained, from primary source (e.g., stool) for detection of parasitesCommonly performed before or in parallel with special staining to detect motile protozoa or ova
    87040Culture, pathogenic organisms, feces, routin e bacterial culture, aerobicAnother stool culture code that may be part of the diagnostic workup for diarrheal illness
    87449Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay (e.g., Giardia lamblia)Antigen tests for specific parasites like Giardia are often used alongside or instead of ova and parasite stains
    87205Stain, single, direct smear (e.g., trichrome) for protozoaSimpler parasitology stains that may precede or supplement the complex special stain

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    213E00000X
    163W00000X
    207L00000X
    208000000X
    3336C0004X
    261QR0405X
    2081S0010X

    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-87205-GRAM-GIEMSA-STAIN-PRIMARY-SOURCE

    CPT 87205: Gram or Giemsa Stain with Interpretation

    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-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.
    Published by

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

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.