87153 Culture, typing; identification by nucleic acid sequencing method, each isolate (eg, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene)

CPT4 Code 87153: Culture Typing by Nucleic Acid Sequencing

CPT4 code 87153 is officially labeled as Culture, typing; identification by nucleic acid sequencing method, each isolate (eg, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene). The supplied sources establish the official label and contextualize the code within laboratory testing frameworks. These sources do not guarantee payer coverage for this specific procedure. 4 5 6

Plain-language overview

CPT4 code 87153 identifies a laboratory procedure for culture typing that uses a nucleic acid sequencing method, with the official description citing 16S rRNA gene sequencing as an example. 4

The official display label for 87153 is Culture, typing; identification by nucleic acid sequencing method, each isolate (eg, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene). 6

What this code represents

Code 87153 represents a procedure for culture typing that uses a nucleic acid sequencing method for identification, with the official description citing 16S rRNA gene sequencing as an example. 4

The code 87153 is listed among other culture typing procedures that utilize different nucleic acid detection techniques, such as direct or amplified probe methods. 4

Documentation considerations

The official label for 87153 specifies that the procedure applies to each isolate, and facilities submitting claims for laboratory tests must be appropriately certified under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments regulations. 4 3

Facilities submitting claims for laboratory tests must be appropriately certified under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments regulations for each test performed. 3

What the sources add

While a payer policy lists 87153 as a primary procedure code, a separate clinical policy includes the identical code description within an onychomycosis testing context. 5 6

A payer document explicitly assigns 87153 as a code for a primary procedure, whereas another source groups the same code among various infectious disease culture typing methodologies. 4 6

Coverage and utilization context

Medicare claims for laboratory tests considered under CLIA are edited at the certificate level to ensure the facility is appropriately certified before payment is made. 3

Sources

1. Calendar Year (CY) 2018 Clinical Laboratory Fee ... — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Research Article Tuberculosis Test Usage and Medical ... — stacks.cdc.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. CMS Manual System - Pub 100-04 Medicare Claims ... — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen ... — codemap.com; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. Warning — southcarolinablues.com; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico — evicore.com; accessed 2026-07-27.