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Cytopathology examination, specifically for cervical or vaginal specimens, is a diagnostic procedure aimed at identifying cellular changes that may indicate the presence of disease. This examination is crucial for detecting conditions such as cervical dysplasia and in situ carcinoma, which are precursors to invasive malignancies. The procedure is commonly known as a Papanicolaou (PAP) smear, named after Dr. George Papanicolaou, who developed this method of screening. During the test, cells are collected from the endocervix using a specialized instrument, such as a brush or stick, and placed in a preservative fluid to maintain their integrity for laboratory analysis. Once the specimen reaches the laboratory, it undergoes a process where the liquid cell suspension is centrifuged to eliminate debris and concentrate the cervical cells, facilitating their retrieval for examination. The cells are then prepared using an automated thin layer preparation system, which stains the cells and transfers them onto slides, ensuring a uniform distribution for microscopic evaluation. The manual screening of these slides is conducted by a trained technician under the supervision of a physician, typically a pathologist, who oversees the accuracy of the findings. This process is essential for ensuring that any abnormal results are communicated to the treating physician, allowing for timely follow-up actions, such as repeat PAP smears or further diagnostic procedures like colposcopy or biopsy, if necessary.
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The cytopathology examination using CPT® Code 88142 is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for CPT® Code 88142 involves several key steps to ensure accurate cytopathological evaluation:
After the cytopathology examination is completed, the findings are communicated to the treating physician. If any abnormalities are detected, the pathologist may recommend follow-up actions, which could include scheduling another PAP smear at a shorter interval than usual or conducting additional diagnostic tests such as colposcopy, endocervical curettage, or biopsy. These follow-up measures are essential for ensuring that any potential issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
| Short Descr | CYTOPATH C/V THIN LAYER | Medium Descr | CYTP CERV/VAG AUTO THIN LAYER PREP MNL SCREEN | Long Descr | Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), collected in preservative fluid, automated thin layer preparation; manual screening under physician supervision | Status Code | Statutory Exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies) | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 9 - Not Applicable | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | CLIA Waived (QW) | No | APC Status Indicator | Conditionally packaged laboratory tests | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1H - Lab tests - other (non-Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 234 - Pathology |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 88155 | Female Edit Addon Code MPFS Status: Statutory exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies) APC Q4 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Cytopathology, slides, cervical or vaginal, definitive hormonal evaluation (eg, maturation index, karyopyknotic index, estrogenic index) (List separately in addition to code[s] for other technical and interpretation services) |
| 90 | Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 91 | Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CG | Policy criteria applied | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | Q4 | Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption | QW | Clia waived test | RE | Furnished in full compliance with fda-mandated risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (rems) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 1998-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1998. |
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