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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOutpatient PPSHCPCS hcpcs-c9803-hospital-outpatient-sars-cov-2-specimen-collection
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    HCPCS C9803: Hospital Outpatient Clinic Specimen Collection for COVID-19

    HCPCS Level II code C9803 describes a hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19), covering collection of any specimen source; service type is specimen collection and the typical site of service is a hospital outpatient clinic or ambulatory care setting where patients present for COVID-19 testing.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A symptomatic adult presents to a hospital outpatient clinic with fever, cough, or known exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The patient registers at the clinic reception, is triaged by nursing staff, and is escorted to an isolation room or designated collection area. A trained clinician or licensed phlebotomist obtains an appropriate specimen (nasopharyngeal swab, nasal swab, saliva, or other approved source) using standard infection-control precautions. Specimen labeling, ordering, and transport to the hospital laboratory or an external testing lab follow facility protocol. The visit is documented in the outpatient medical record, including indication for testing, specimen type, collector identity, and time of collection. Billing for the specimen collection in the hospital outpatient clinic is reported with C9803 and may be accompanied by visit-level or laboratory processing codes as clinically applicable.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    87070Culture, any other source, bacterial; aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal (if performed)May be performed in parallel if clinician also collects specimens for bacterial respiratory testing during the same visit.
    87426Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); SARS-CoV-2, amplified probe techniqueLaboratory test commonly ordered for the collected specimen; processing performed by lab after C9803 collection.
    87811Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, SARS-CoV-2Rapid antigen testing that may be performed on specimens obtained during the clinic visit.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from physician's office to a laboratory (if applicable)May be used when additional handling or courier fees apply for collected specimens.
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureUsed if blood specimen is also collected for serologic testing in addition to respiratory SARS-CoV-2 collection.
    G2023Specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 by a qualified laboratory technician when performed in certain settingsAlternative HCPCS/G-code used by some payers for reporting COVID-19 specimen collection in specific contexts.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207Q00000XFamily Medicine PhysicianFamily Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    363A00000XPhysician AssistantA physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and…
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    335V00000XPortable X-ray and/or Other Portable Diagnostic Imaging SupplierA supplier that provides one or more of the following portable services, including but not limited to, x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), long-term EKG (…
    204R00000XElectrodiagnostic Medicine PhysicianElectrodiagnostic medicine is the medical subspecialty that applies neurophysiologic techniques to diagnose, evaluate, and treat patients with impairm…
    2471S1302XSonography Radiologic TechnologistA radiologic technologist who specializes in sonography and is appropriately educated and trained, consistent with nationally recognized standards, st…
    1041C0700XClinical Social WorkerA social worker who holds a master's or doctoral degree in social work from an accredited school of social work in addition to at least two years of p…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A09Infectious gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
    B97.29Other coronavirus as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    I10Essential (primary) hypertension
    J00Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]
    J02.9Acute pharyngitis, unspecified
    J12.89Other viral pneumonia
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    J20.9Acute bronchitis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-C1713-IMPLANTABLE-ANCHOR-SCREW-BONE-FIXATION

    HCPCS C1713: Anchor/Screw for Bone or Soft Tissue Fixation (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1714-TRANSLUMINAL-DIRECTIONAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1714: Catheter, transluminal atherectomy, directional

    HCPCS-C1715-BRACHYTHERAPY-NEEDLE

    HCPCS C1715: Brachytherapy Needle

    HCPCS-C1716-BRACHYTHERAPY-GOLD-198-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1716: Brachytherapy Source, Gold-198, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1717-HDR-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1717: HDR Iridium-192 Brachytherapy Source, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1719-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE-NON-STRANDED

    HCPCS C1719: Brachytherapy Source, Iridium-192, Non-Stranded

    HCPCS-C1721-IMPLANTABLE-DUAL-CHAMBER-CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR

    HCPCS C1721: Cardioverter-Defibrillator, Dual Chamber (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1724-ROTATIONAL-TRANSLUMINAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS Level II C1724: Rotational Transluminal Atherectomy Catheter

    HCPCS-C1725-TRANSLUMINAL-ANGIOPLASTY-CATHETER-NON-LASER

    HCPCS Level II C1725: Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter, Non-Laser

    HCPCS-C1726-NON-VASCULAR-BALLOON-DILATATION-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1726: Catheter, Balloon Dilatation, Non-Vascular

    Showing 1–10 of 603

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    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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