Summary & Overview
CPT 89230: Sweat Collection by Iontophoresis
CPT code 89230 designates sweat collection by iontophoresis, a diagnostic specimen collection method that uses a mild electrical current to stimulate sweat for quantitative analysis. Nationally, this code matters because sweat chloride testing remains an important diagnostic tool for conditions such as cystic fibrosis and for evaluating disorders of electrolyte transport. Accurate coding ensures appropriate clinical documentation and facilitates claims processing for outpatient diagnostic services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will gain a concise overview of clinical context for the procedure, common settings where the service is delivered, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and billing. The publication summarizes available benchmarks and policy considerations impacting reimbursement and claims adjudication, highlights coding and documentation elements relevant to accurate submission, and outlines common modifiers used with similar specimen collection procedures. The report is written for a national audience seeking clarity on clinical indications, operational settings, and payer interactions for sweat collection by iontophoresis under CPT code 89230.
Data not available in the input for specific coverage policies, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 89230 describes a sweat collection performed by iontophoresis, a procedure in which an analyst uses a mild electric current to deliver ions that stimulate sweat production for diagnostic testing. The procedure is typically performed to collect sweat for quantitative analysis, most commonly in the evaluation of cystic fibrosis and other disorders affecting sweat electrolytes.
Service Type: Diagnostic specimen collection by iontophoresis
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, hospital outpatient department, or specialized diagnostic laboratory
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 6-year-old child with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and failure to thrive is referred to a pediatric pulmonology clinic for evaluation of possible cystic fibrosis. After history, physical exam, and genetic testing are inconclusive or pending, the clinician orders a sweat chloride test. In the outpatient clinic, a trained analyst performs sweat collection by iontophoresis using pilocarpine and a mild electric current to stimulate localized sweating. The procedure typically occurs in an ambulatory clinic or hospital outpatient laboratory and takes approximately 30–60 minutes including site preparation, iontophoresis application, timed sweat collection, and documentation. A laboratory technologist or certified respiratory therapist prepares the collection sites (usually forearm), applies the iontophoresis electrodes, runs the current for the prescribed time, collects the sweat onto gauze or collection devices, measures the volume, and sends the specimen to the laboratory for chloride assay. Results are reported to the ordering clinician and documented in the medical record. The service is commonly billed when diagnostic clarification for cystic fibrosis or evaluation of unexplained hyponatremia, chronic cough, or failure to thrive is needed; it may be repeated when prior tests are indeterminate or to confirm newborn screening abnormalities.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Service performed by the physician | When the physician personally performs or supervises the procedure and bills the professional service |