Summary & Overview
CPT 87512: Gardnerella vaginalis Nucleic Acid Probe Test
CPT code 87512 represents a nucleic acid probe test that quantifies infection with Gardnerella vaginalis, the organism commonly linked to bacterial vaginosis. This laboratory CPT code matters nationally because accurate, specific testing for Gardnerella can influence diagnosis, treatment decisions, and antimicrobial stewardship in outpatient and inpatient settings. Payers commonly considered in analyses of molecular infectious disease testing include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn what CPT code 87512 covers clinically, where the test is typically performed, and the context in which it is ordered. The publication reviews national benchmarking points and payer coverage themes, summarizes clinical relevance for bacterial vaginosis diagnosis, and flags areas where policy updates or coding guidance may affect billing and payment for nucleic acid probe testing. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable, and the content focuses on describing the code, expected service settings, and implications for laboratory and clinical workflows rather than recommending clinical actions.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 87512 describes a laboratory test that quantifies infection with Gardnerella vaginalis using a nucleic acid probe technique. The assay is used to detect and measure the presence of the organism most commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis, an infection of the vagina that frequently produces an odorous discharge.
Service type: Laboratory — infectious disease molecular diagnostic test
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory, ordered from outpatient clinics or inpatient services for patients with symptoms of vaginal infection
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old female presents to an outpatient gynecology clinic with a 3-day history of malodorous, thin, gray vaginal discharge and mild vaginal itching. The clinician performs a focused pelvic exam, documents vaginal odor and thin discharge consistent with bacterial vaginosis, and collects a vaginal swab specimen. The specimen is sent to the laboratory for nucleic acid probe testing to quantify infection with Gardnerella vaginalis using technique 87512. The lab analyst performs the 87512 assay and reports qualitative/quantitative results to the ordering provider. Typical workflow steps include specimen collection in clinic, specimen labeling and transport to the clinical laboratory, performance of the nucleic acid probe assay by trained laboratory personnel, result verification, and reporting into the electronic health record for clinical decision-making.
Typical site of service: outpatient clinic or ambulatory gynecology office; testing may also occur in hospital outpatient laboratories or reference labs. Typical service type: laboratory diagnostic test performed by clinical laboratory personnel using nucleic acid probe technique for detection/quantification of Gardnerella vaginalis infection.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 |