Collaborative Stage

Note 1: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are isolated tumor cells (ITCs) found in the blood distant from the breast.
Note 2: Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) are two components of a laboratory process for identifying very small amounts of tumor cells in tissue. In the IMS process, paramagnetic beads coated with antibodies bind to antigens on tumor cells, which are removed and concentrated by being passed through a magnetic field. RT-PCR is then used to amplify the genetic material to a detectable level.
Note 3: Code the results to the test type as expressed in the medical record. Give priority to "IMS" if the report uses both expressions for test type.

Code	Description
010	Positive, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test
020	Positive, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) test
030	Positive, other test type
040	Positive, unknown test type
110	Negative/normal, RT-PCR test
120	Negative/normal, IMS test
130	Negative/normal, other test type
140	Negative/normal, unknown test type
210	Borderline; equivocal; indeterminate; undetermined if positive or negative, RT-PCR test
220	Borderline; equivocal; indeterminate; undetermined if positive or negative, IMS test
230	Borderline; equivocal; indeterminate; undetermined if positive or negative, other test type
240	Borderline equivocal; indeterminate; undetermined if positive or negative, unknown test type
988	Not applicable: Information not collected for this case (If this information is required by your standard setter, use of code 988 may result in an edit error.)
997	Test ordered, results not in chart
998	Test not done (test not ordered and not performed)
999	Unknown or no information Not documented in patient record

CS Site-Specific Factor 17
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) and Method of Detection