1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:
The test performed is a therapeutic drug assay to measure the concentration of vancomycin in the patient’s blood.
CPT® Code 80184 is specific for a therapeutic drug assay of vancomycin, making it the correct code to report for this test.
2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:
Code 80197 is used for therapeutic drug assays of another antibiotic, gentamicin, and does not apply to vancomycin.
Code 80202 is for measuring the levels of cyclosporine, another drug, and is not relevant to vancomycin.
Code 80299 is for an unlisted therapeutic drug assay, which is unnecessary since a specific code (80184) exists for vancomycin.
3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:
According to AAPC guidelines, specific therapeutic drug assay codes, like 80184 for vancomycin, should be used when available.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. 80184.