Summary & Overview
CPT 88372: Western Blot Protein Analysis of Tissue, With Interpretation and Report
Headline: CPT code 88372: Western Blot Protein Analysis of Tissue, With Interpretation and Report
Lead: CPT code 88372 covers Western blot protein analysis of tissue specimens, including immunological probe-based band identification, interpretation, and a written report. This laboratory pathology code is used nationally for confirmatory and diagnostic protein assays performed on tissue, such as skin biopsies, and matters for clinical decision-making and billing consistency across payers.
Overview: CPT code 88372 designates a laboratory pathology service that performs protein-level analysis using Western blot methodology and provides interpretive findings. The code is relevant for cases requiring confirmatory protein identification or characterization when immunoblotting is the chosen technique. It is typically billed for services rendered in clinical laboratory and hospital pathology settings where tissue specimens are processed and analyzed.
Key payers: The analysis covers common national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
What readers will learn: The publication details how CPT code 88372 is defined and used, clarifies clinical contexts where Western blot tissue analysis is applicable, and summarizes payer coverage patterns and coding considerations. It also outlines common modifiers and reporting components tied to the service. Where input data is absent, the report notes those gaps.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 88372 describes a laboratory procedure in which an analyst performs a protein analysis of tissue using the Western blot method with immunological probes for band identification. The service includes the analytic process, interpretation of results, and generation of a written report.
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Service type: Protein analysis using Western blot with immunological probes; includes interpretation and reporting.
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital pathology/laboratory setting; specimen source may include skin tissue or other tissue samples.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient presents to a dermatology clinic with a chronic, treatment-resistant blistering skin eruption and suspected autoimmune bullous disease. The dermatologist performs a punch biopsy of lesional skin and submits tissue to the clinical pathology laboratory for protein-based testing. The laboratory performs a 88372 Western blot analysis using immunologic probes to detect disease-specific target proteins and band patterns. The workflow includes: specimen accessioning, protein extraction from tissue, gel electrophoresis, transfer to membrane, probing with patient serum or specific antibodies, visualization of immunoreactive bands, interpretation by a pathologist or laboratory analyst, and a written report documenting band identification and diagnostic implications. Results are returned to the ordering dermatologist and incorporated into the patient’s management plan, such as confirmation of pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, or other immunobullous conditions, which guides immunosuppressive therapy selection and monitoring.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional (interpretation) portion if technical component is billed separately. |