CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

CPT code 87250 describes laboratory viral isolation performed by inoculating an embryo-containing egg or a small animal, allowing the virus to grow, and observing for signs of viral replication, including any necessary dissection; this service is a viral culture/isolation procedure typically performed in a clinical virology laboratory or specialized microbiology lab and represents a diagnostic virology service involving live-animal or embryonated egg inoculation and subsequent observation.

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CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A mid-40s patient presents to a hospital infectious disease laboratory after a clinician suspects a viral etiology for an acute febrile respiratory illness that has not yielded a definitive diagnosis by rapid antigen testing and molecular assays. A respiratory specimen (nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate) or tissue sample is delivered to the virology lab. The virology technologist inoculates the specimen into embryonated eggs or a susceptible small animal model to attempt viral isolation. The sample is incubated and observed over several days for cytopathic effects, embryonic death, or other signs of viral growth; dissection and direct observation may be performed to identify characteristic lesions. Results are used to confirm viable virus, enable further typing, culture-based susceptibility testing, or preparation of isolates for public health reference laboratories.

Typical site of service: Hospital clinical virology laboratory, public health laboratory, or specialized research/diagnostic laboratory with biosafety facilities.

Typical patient scenario: A patient hospitalized with pneumonia and worsening hypoxia after negative initial PCR panels, where isolation is pursued to detect unusual or culture-requiring pathogens (for example, certain influenza strains, orthomyxoviruses, or other agents requiring culture for characterization). The laboratory documents specimen accession, inoculation, incubation, observation, and any dissection performed as part of the isolation process.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87240`	Infectious agent antigen detection by immunofluorescent technique, direct; single step	Performed prior to culture to attempt rapid antigen detection and guide need for viral isolation.
`87536`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); influenza virus, includes reverse transcription when performed	Molecular testing often precedes or accompanies culture; negative molecular results with high clinical suspicion may prompt culture via `87250`.
`87100`	Cultivation, bacterial, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates	Bacterial culture analogue commonly performed in parallel for differential diagnosis of infection.
`87252`	Viral serology by immunofluorescent technique (indirect)	Serologic testing may be used adjunctively while viral isolation is pursued for definitive identification.
`87420`	Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay for respiratory syncytial virus	Example of rapid antigen testing that may be performed before resorting to viral isolation in eggs or animals.

Related Modifiers

7 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…
62	Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…	- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
78	CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…	- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
80	CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…	- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
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…
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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207R00000X	Internal Medicine Physician	A physician who provides long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults…
174400000X	Specialist	An individual educated and trained in an applied knowledge discipline used in the performance of work at a level requiring knowledge and skills beyond…
163W00000X	Registered Nurse	(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
163WX0002X	High-Risk Obstetric Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
171WH0202X	Home Modifications Contractor	A contractor who makes modifications to homes to accommodate a health condition.
2080H0002X	Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician	A pediatrician with special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This speci…
1223X0008X	Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Dentistry	The specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities …
171WV0202X	Vehicle Modifications Contractor	A contractor who makes modifications to private vehicles to accommodate a health condition.

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

25 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
A08.0	Rotaviral enteritis
A08.4	Viral intestinal infection, unspecified
A41.9	Sepsis, unspecified organism
A49.9	Bacterial infection, unspecified
A92.9	Mosquito-borne viral fever, unspecified
A96.9	Arenaviral hemorrhagic fever, unspecified
B05.9	Measles without complication
B06.9	Rubella without complication
B20	Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
B26.9	Mumps without complication

Showing 1–10 of 25

CPT 87252: Viral Isolation in Tissue Culture

CPT-87253-VIRAL-IDENTIFICATION-AFTER-TISSUE-CULTURE

CPT 87253: Virus Identification by Neutralization After Tissue Culture

CPT-87254-SHELL-VIAL-VIRAL-CULTURE-IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

CPT 87254: Shell Vial Viral Culture with Immunofluorescence

CPT-87255-VIRAL-IDENTIFICATION-CELL-IMPACT-ANALYSIS

CPT 87255: Viral Identification by Cytopathic Effect, Non‑Immunologic

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

Typical site of service: Hospital clinical virology laboratory, public health laboratory, or specialized research/diagnostic laboratory with biosafety facilities.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87240`	Infectious agent antigen detection by immunofluorescent technique, direct; single step	Performed prior to culture to attempt rapid antigen detection and guide need for viral isolation.
`87536`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); influenza virus, includes reverse transcription when performed	Molecular testing often precedes or accompanies culture; negative molecular results with high clinical suspicion may prompt culture via `87250`.
`87100`	Cultivation, bacterial, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates	Bacterial culture analogue commonly performed in parallel for differential diagnosis of infection.
`87252`	Viral serology by immunofluorescent technique (indirect)	Serologic testing may be used adjunctively while viral isolation is pursued for definitive identification.
`87420`	Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay for respiratory syncytial virus	Example of rapid antigen testing that may be performed before resorting to viral isolation in eggs or animals.

Related Modifiers

7 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…
62	Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…	- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
78	CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…	- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
80	CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…	- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
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…
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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207R00000X	Internal Medicine Physician	A physician who provides long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults…
174400000X	Specialist	An individual educated and trained in an applied knowledge discipline used in the performance of work at a level requiring knowledge and skills beyond…
163W00000X	Registered Nurse	(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
163WX0002X	High-Risk Obstetric Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
171WH0202X	Home Modifications Contractor	A contractor who makes modifications to homes to accommodate a health condition.
2080H0002X	Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician	A pediatrician with special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This speci…
1223X0008X	Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Dentistry	The specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities …
171WV0202X	Vehicle Modifications Contractor	A contractor who makes modifications to private vehicles to accommodate a health condition.

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

25 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
A08.0	Rotaviral enteritis
A08.4	Viral intestinal infection, unspecified
A41.9	Sepsis, unspecified organism
A49.9	Bacterial infection, unspecified
A92.9	Mosquito-borne viral fever, unspecified
A96.9	Arenaviral hemorrhagic fever, unspecified
B05.9	Measles without complication
B06.9	Rubella without complication
B20	Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
B26.9	Mumps without complication

Showing 1–10 of 25

CPT 87252: Viral Isolation in Tissue Culture

CPT-87253-VIRAL-IDENTIFICATION-AFTER-TISSUE-CULTURE

CPT 87253: Virus Identification by Neutralization After Tissue Culture

CPT-87254-SHELL-VIAL-VIRAL-CULTURE-IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

CPT 87254: Shell Vial Viral Culture with Immunofluorescence

CPT-87255-VIRAL-IDENTIFICATION-CELL-IMPACT-ANALYSIS

CPT 87255: Viral Identification by Cytopathic Effect, Non‑Immunologic

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.

OpenPayer

CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

Sign up for cpt 87250 policy alerts

OpenPayer

CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

Sign up for cpt 87250 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

Sign up for cpt 87250 policy alerts

CPT 87250: Viral Isolation Using Embryonated Egg or Small Animal

Sign up for cpt 87250 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 87250 represent and where is this service typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 87250 and when are they used?

What other tests are commonly related to or performed before using CPT 87250?

When is viral isolation with CPT 87250 clinically indicated and which diagnoses are related?

Which payers cover CPT 87250 and what is its broader clinical or public health role?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 87250 represent and where is this service typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 87250 and when are they used?

What other tests are commonly related to or performed before using CPT 87250?

When is viral isolation with CPT 87250 clinically indicated and which diagnoses are related?

Which payers cover CPT 87250 and what is its broader clinical or public health role?

References