1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:
The test ordered is a bile acid quantitation using an enzymatic method. This test measures the total bile acids in a patient with chronic hepatitis.
CPT® Code 82248 is specific for quantitation of bile acids, total, which is the correct code for a bile acid test using any method, including enzymatic.
2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:
Code 82247 is used for the measurement of bilirubin, not bile acids, making it inappropriate for this test.
Code 82239 is for measuring an amino acid (gamma-glutamyl transferase), which is unrelated to bile acid quantitation.
Code 82252 is for a fecal bile acid screening, which is different from a quantitation of bile acids in serum or plasma.
3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:
According to AAPC guidelines, 82248 should be selected for total bile acid quantitation regardless of the specific analytical method used.
Therefore, the correct answer is A. 82248.
