Lab & pathology
82270 — Blood, occult, by peroxidase activity; feces, consecutive collected specimens with guaiac-based pad
A colorectal cancer screening test where the patient collects samples from three consecutive bowel movements on special guaiac-coated cards, and the lab checks them for hidden blood using a peroxidase chemical reaction.
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab, doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $4–$10 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $10–$40 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Confusing 82270 (guaiac FOBT, 3-sample screening) with 82274 (FIT — fecal immunochemical test) — these are different methodologies and different codes
What it means
What 82270 actually means
A colorectal cancer screening test where the patient collects samples from three consecutive bowel movements on special guaiac-coated cards, and the lab checks them for hidden blood using a peroxidase chemical reaction. A positive result indicates blood in the stool that warrants further investigation.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Confusing 82270 (guaiac FOBT, 3-sample screening) with 82274 (FIT — fecal immunochemical test) — these are different methodologies and different codes
- Using non-screening diagnosis codes with 82270, which Medicare covers only as a colorectal cancer screening test (use Z12.11)
- Billing 82270 more frequently than allowed under payer-specific screening intervals (Medicare covers annually)
If you see 82270 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 82270 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80053 — Comprehensive metabolic panel
If individual blood tests are also on your bill, you may have an unbundling error.
CPT
80055 — Obstetric panel; CBC w/diff, HBsAg, rubella Ab, syphilis, RBC Ab screen, ABO/Rh
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 82270 on a bill.
82270 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 82270 usually cost?
$4–$10 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $10–$40 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 82270?
Confusing 82270 (guaiac FOBT, 3-sample screening) with 82274 (FIT — fecal immunochemical test) — these are different methodologies and different codes
What should I do if I see 82270 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 82270 before paying.
Don't pay 82270 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.