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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIn Vivo (eg, Transcutaneous) Laboratory ProceduresCPT cpt-88740-transcutaneous-carboxyhemoglobin-quantitative
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    CPT 88740: Transcutaneous Measurement of Carboxyhemoglobin

    CPT code 88740 describes a quantitative transcutaneous measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) performed by an analyst using a through-the-skin sensor; service type is noninvasive transcutaneous COHb monitoring, typically provided in ambulatory clinics, emergency departments, or inpatient bedside settings, and report the code only once per day.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Oral Cancer Screening and Testing, RTM Testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Cytochrome P450 Genotype-Guided Treatment Strategy Corporate Medical Policy.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 45-year-old firefighter presents to the emergency department after being rescued from a structure fire with potential smoke inhalation. The patient reports headache, nausea, and dizziness. Pulse oximetry is unreliable for detecting carbon monoxide exposure. The clinician orders a transcutaneous carboxyhemoglobin measurement to rapidly quantify carboxyhemoglobin levels and guide decisions about supplemental oxygen versus hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A respiratory therapist or clinical laboratory analyst performs the noninvasive transcutaneous quantitative procedure, documents the measured carboxyhemoglobin value in the medical record, and the result is reported once for that calendar day using 88740. The typical site of service is the emergency department, inpatient hospital unit, or burn center where rapid, repeated noninvasive monitoring may be needed to track response to therapy.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    94760Noninvasive ear or pulse oximetry for oxygen saturation (per encounter)Often performed concurrently to assess oxygenation though pulse oximetry cannot detect carboxyhemoglobin; used for complementary monitoring.
    94799Unlisted pulmonary service or procedureMay be reported when a specific device or method for transcutaneous measurement lacks a dedicated code (use only when appropriate).
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipuncturePerformed if a venous blood sample is obtained for laboratory carboxyhemoglobin by blood gas or co-oximetry as a confirmatory test.
    82803Carboxyhemoglobin test, blood (quantitative)Laboratory measurement of carboxyhemoglobin from blood sample used to confirm and quantify CO exposure; complements transcutaneous 88740.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer to another facility (if applicable)Used when specimen transfer is needed for reference lab testing that complements transcutaneous measurement.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    207RC0000X
    207L00000X
    363A00000X
    163WP0200X
    163WC0400X
    310500000X
    374J00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    19 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F10.129Alcohol abuse with intoxication, unspecified
    F19.129Other psychoactive substance abuse with intoxication, unspecified
    I46.9Cardiac arrest, cause unspecified
    I49.01Ventricular fibrillation
    J96.00Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
    J96.01Acute respiratory failure with hypoxia
    J96.02Acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia
    R06.00Dyspnea, unspecified
    R06.02Shortness of breath
    R06.03Acute respiratory distress

    Showing 1–10 of 19

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Genetic & Molecular Testing1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Oral Cancer Screening and TestingOscar Health2027-01-01
    RTM Testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin DeficiencyOscar Health2027-01-01
    Cytochrome P450 Genotype-Guided Treatment Strategy Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2027-01-01
    Carrier Testing Panels for Genetic Diseases (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Genetic Testing for Neurological Disorders (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Genetic and Molecular TestingProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Cell-Free Fetal DNA Testing (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Next Generation Sequencing for Minimal Residual Disease DetectionProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Pharmacogenetic Panel Testing (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Non-Covered Genetic Panel TestsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-88720-NONINVASIVE-BILIRUBIN-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 88720: Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement

    CPT-88738-TRANSCUTANEOUS-HEMOGLOBIN-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 88738: Transcutaneous Hemoglobin Measurement

    CPT-88741-TRANSCUTANEOUS-METHEMOGLOBIN-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 88741: Transcutaneous Quantitative Methemoglobin Measurement

    CPT-88749-UNLISTED-IN-VIVO-LABORATORY-SERVICE

    CPT 88749: Unlisted In Vivo Laboratory Service

    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.
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