Lab & pathology
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
A blood test measuring four key electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) — that regulate fluid balance and nerve and muscle function.
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab, doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $8–$20 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $15–$60 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Unbundling: billing 84295 (sodium), 84132 (potassium), 82435 (chloride), 82374 (CO2) individually when all four are performed — bundling rules require 80051
What it means
What 80051 actually means
A blood test measuring four key electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) — that regulate fluid balance and nerve and muscle function. It is commonly ordered to monitor patients on certain medications or with kidney or heart conditions.
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).
- Unbundling: billing 84295 (sodium), 84132 (potassium), 82435 (chloride), 82374 (CO2) individually when all four are performed — bundling rules require 80051
- Billing 80051 and 80048 together when BMP includes all electrolyte panel components
- Billing 80051 without all four required components, which invalidates the panel code
If you see 80051 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 80051 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
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.
CPT
80069 — Renal function panel; albumin, creatinine, BUN, phosphorus, electrolytes, glucose, calcium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 80051 on a bill.
80051 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 80051 usually cost?
$8–$20 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $15–$60 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 80051?
Unbundling: billing 84295 (sodium), 84132 (potassium), 82435 (chloride), 82374 (CO2) individually when all four are performed — bundling rules require 80051
What should I do if I see 80051 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 80051 before paying.
Don't pay 80051 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.