87081 Culture screening only
Also known as: Culture screening only, Screen only, No identification
Bacterial culture screening only without organism identification. Presence/absence determination.
In Plain Language
Simple infection presence test
Clinical Context
Limited screening culture reporting only growth or no growth without identification. Used when full identification not clinically necessary.
RVU Information
CPT 87081 does not have a physician work RVU assigned by CMS. Reimbursement for this code is determined by payer-specific fee schedules.
Billing & Documentation
Lab and pathology codes require an order from the treating provider with clinical indication. For molecular pathology and genetic testing, document the specific analytes tested and clinical rationale.
How This Code Compares
This code has a work RVU of 0.00, meaning it does not have a physician work component assigned by CMS. In the Pathology & Lab category, 94% of codes share this characteristic.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 87081?
CPT 87081 (Culture screening only) is a Pathology & Lab code. Bacterial culture screening only without organism identification. Presence/absence determination.
Who uses CPT code 87081?
CPT 87081 is used by Microbiology, Pathology. Limited screening culture reporting only growth or no growth without identification. Used when full identification not clinically necessary.
When is CPT 87081 used?
Limited screening culture reporting only growth or no growth without identification. Used when full identification not clinically necessary.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against national data — all in one app.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.