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Diagnostic & laboratory specialties
Laboratory Medicine OHIP billing codes
Anatomical pathology levels, cytology, haematopathology interpretation, operative consultation and frozen section, special stains and flow cytometry.
30 codes in 5 sections, fees from the current Schedule of Benefits. Every code the Schedule lists for specialty 28 is in the full Lab Medicine listing.
Consultations — operative & frozen section
- L822Operative consultationAn operative consultation by a pathologist, which may include a frozen section, performed during a surgical procedure to provide rapid diagnostic information.$79.30
- L823Subsequent frozen section or direct smearPayable for each subsequent frozen section or direct smear performed during an operative consultation. This is an add-on to L822.$39.30
Surgical pathology by level
- L861Surgical Pathology, Level 1Represents the professional service for the examination and diagnosis of a Level 1 surgical pathology specimen, the simplest category of tissue analysis.$5.35
- L862Surgical Pathology, Level 2Surgical Pathology, Level 2, is the professional interpretation of a specific type of anatomical pathology specimen, categorized as Level 2 complexity.$8.70
- L863Surgical Pathology, Level 3A level 3 professional service for the pathological examination and interpretation of a surgical specimen, part of a tiered system based on complexity.$14.70
- L864Surgical Pathology, Level 4A Level 4 surgical pathology service involving the gross and microscopic examination of a surgical specimen of intermediate-to-high complexity.$50.00
- L865Surgical Pathology, Level 5Surgical Pathology, Level 5 is an anatomical pathology service for the interpretation of complex surgical specimens.$106.00
- L866Surgical Pathology, Level 6Represents the professional component for the examination and diagnosis of a Level 6 surgical pathology specimen. This service is for the most complex specimens requiring extensive dissection and microscopic evaluation, typically involving the resection of a large organ for a tumor.$186.60
- L867Surgical Pathology, Unlisted specimensSurgical pathology service for the examination and interpretation of unlisted or unclassified surgical specimens.$47.95
Cytology
- L812Cervical vaginal specimensProvides for the professional interpretation of cervical-vaginal specimens to assess for cellular abnormalities, evaluate microbial flora, and/or perform cytohormonal analysis.$4.75
- L804Smear, specific assessmentA specific assessment of a smear, such as for eosinophils, asbestos bodies, or amniotic fluid cells, often used for estimating fetal maturation.$14.70
- L805Aspiration biopsyProvides for the interpretation of an aspiration biopsy specimen, such as from the lung, breast, thyroid, or prostate, as part of an anatomic pathology and cytopathology service.$93.35
- L806Bronchial, oesophageal, gastric, endometrial or other brushings and washingsProvides for the cytopathological interpretation of specimens obtained from bronchial, oesophageal, gastric, endometrial, or other brushings and washings.$37.35
- L808Imprint, touch preparation and/or direct smearProvides for the microscopic interpretation of an imprint, touch preparation, or direct smear from a tissue specimen, often performed for rapid cytopathological assessment.$37.35
- L815Sputum per specimen for general and/or specific assessmentProvides for the interpretation of a sputum specimen for general and/or specific assessment, such as for the identification of cellular abnormalities, asbestos bodies, lipids, or haemosiderin.$37.35
- L820Smear for spermatozoaA cytopathology laboratory service for the microscopic examination of a smear to detect the presence of spermatozoa.$8.75
- L848Seminal fluid analysis - quantitative kinetic studiesA laboratory test that performs quantitative kinetic studies on seminal fluid, including the analysis of sperm velocity, linearity of movement, and lateral head amplitude, often used in infertility assessments.$30.45
Haematopathology
- L800Blood film interpretation (Romanowsky stain)A laboratory medicine procedure for the professional interpretation of a blood film prepared with a Romanowsky stain.$29.40
- L802Bone marrow interpretation (Romanowsky stain)A laboratory service for the professional interpretation of a bone marrow specimen that has been prepared with a Romanowsky stain.$64.45
- L826Blood film interpretation (special stain)Payable for the professional interpretation of a blood film prepared with a special stain.$16.05
- L829Haemoglobinopathy interpretationHaemoglobinopathy interpretation service. This service is only eligible for payment when test results are abnormal.$25.70
- L824Synovial fluid analysisSynovial fluid analysis, including description, viscosity, mucin clot, cell count, and compensated polarized light microscopy for crystals$25.40
Special stains, immunohistochemistry & microscopy
- L837Immunohistochemistry, direct immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, immunobead or other method and interpretation - per markerA laboratory medicine procedure for the special analysis and interpretation of histology or cytology specimens using immunohistochemistry, billed per marker. This service is listed under Special Procedures and Interpretation - Histology or Cytology on page J64 of the Schedule.$16.00
- L841Enzyme histochemistry and interpretationPayable for the performance and interpretation of enzyme histochemistry on a tissue specimen. This service is billed per enzyme.$16.05
- L844Special microscopy and interpretationSpecial microscopy including polarization, phase-contrast, differential interference contrast, dark field, autofluorescence, or other microscopy and interpretation$25.75
- L846Flow cell cytometry and interpretation - per markerA laboratory medicine service for performing and interpreting flow cell cytometry, billed on a per-marker basis.$15.65
- L817Anti-tissue antibodies and interpretationProvides for the testing and interpretation of anti-tissue antibodies for a single case. This is a laboratory medicine procedure.$6.20
- L816Electron microscopy by TEM, STEM or SEM techniqueElectron microscopy service using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), or Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques for diagnostic purposes.$100.65
- L836Morphometry per parameterA specialized laboratory procedure involving the quantitative measurement of morphological features (morphometry) on a per-parameter basis.$25.40
- L845Specimen radiography or microradiography and interpretationProvides for the performance and interpretation of radiography or microradiography conducted on a tissue or fluid specimen.$10.70
How to use this lab medicine code set
This is a working list, not the whole Schedule. It carries the codes the Ontario Schedule of Benefits ties to laboratory medicine (specialty 28) — its own consultation and assessment codes, in-patient visits, premiums and the diagnostics or procedures that make up most of a day — sectioned the way a shift sheet reads. Codes open to every specialty that a lab medicine physician also bills (general assessments, forms, special visit premiums) live in the Family Practice and Special visit premiums sets.
Each code links to its full Schedule entry: fee history, restrictions, required diagnoses and the codes it can or cannot be billed with. Fees shown are the current provider or specialist fee; percentage premiums show the percentage they add to the base service.
Common questions
Which consultation or assessment code does laboratory medicine bill?
The consultations — operative & frozen section section of this set starts with L822 (Operative consultation), which pays $79.30 under the current Ontario Schedule of Benefits. 2 codes are listed in that section.
What is in the Laboratory Medicine code set?
30 OHIP billing codes across 5 sections: Consultations — operative & frozen section; Surgical pathology by level; Cytology; Haematopathology; Special stains, immunohistochemistry & microscopy. Anatomical pathology levels, cytology, haematopathology interpretation, operative consultation and frozen section, special stains and flow cytometry.
Are these the current OHIP fees?
Fees are read from the current Ontario Schedule of Benefits for Physician Services and refreshed hourly. Claims are paid at the fee in force on the service date, so always confirm the effective date on the code page.
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