Consultative opinions are available
on submitted pathologic case materials (Case Submission page...*click*).
Typically, glass slides representing tissue biopsy samples or cellular smear preparations from body fluids or fine needle aspirations are included with copies of relevant pathology reports and clinical summaries. In addition, fresh-frozen tissues are sometimes sent on dry ice for molecular probe studies, or fresh tissue or fresh blood specimens refrigerated on wet ice for flow cytometry analysis.
Molecular Probe Studies
Available in the laboratory of Dr. John Longshore at Carolinas Medical Center
are highly sensitive genetic probe methods using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect clonal lymphoid cell populations. These methods can be applied with tissue from conventional formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from select cases in which all other criteria leave open the question of a benign versus malignant process. Primers are used to detect clonal B-cell (Ig heavy chain gene) or T-cell (T-gamma gene) processes, or to detect the presence of the t(14;18) bcl-2 translocation which typifies follicular lymphomas. Turn-around time for these studies is 5 days after receipt of the case.
After initial review of the submitted case materials,
Dr. Banks, one of his colleagues, or a trainee will call the submitting pathologist with the interpretation. If additional studies are needed or recommended, the permission of the submitting pathologist is obtained before proceeding with such studies.
When a final diagnosis has been reached, the submitting pathologist is called and then, usually within two working days, a written report is faxed. Any special study slide materials generated in the consultative lab are returned by tracked courier services, along with the original slides and paraffin block materials, usually within a few days after completion of the case.
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List of Services and Fee Schedule
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| Review of submitted materials (standard) |
CPT code 88321:
195.00 |
| Review of submitted materials ((requiring slide production) |
CPT code 88323;
245.00 |
| Review of complex case (requiring clinical data review) |
CPT code 88325:
295.00 |
| Review of submitted materials (critical immunostains) |
CPT code 88342-26:
90.00
per selected stain |
| Automated flow cytometry, technical |
CPT codes 88184 (first marker), 88185 (additional markers), with maximum charge:
105.00 |
| Flow cytometry interpretation (one code per case) |
CPT codes 88187 (2 to 8 markers), 88188 (9 to 15 markers) or 88189 (16+ markers), maximum charge at 20 markers:
167.00 |
Paraffin immunostains
(including technical and professional) |
CPT code 88342:
125.00 |
| Molecular probes for determination of B-cell clonality (IgH) using 3 gene primers (FR1, FR2 and FR3) |
CPT codes 83891, 83898x3, 83894, 83912
$402.00 |
| Molecular probes for determination of T-cell clonality (T-gamma) |
CPT codes 83891, 83898x2, 83894, 83912
$309.00 |
| Molecular probes for determination of clonal bcl-2 translocation |
CPT codes 83891, 83898, 83994, 83912
$215.00 |
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