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    OpenPayerBilling CodesProprietary Laboratory AnalysesCPT cpt-0106u-cairn-13c-spirulina-gastric-emptying-breath-test
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    CPT 0106U: Cairn 13C–Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test

    CPT code 0106U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the Cairn 13C–Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test (GEBT) from Cairn Diagnostics (Advanced Breath Diagnostics, LLC), a noninvasive, nonradioactive breath test that measures the rate of gastric emptying of solids in adult patients; service type: laboratory diagnostic test for gastric emptying assessment; typical site of service: outpatient laboratory or ambulatory diagnostic facility.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Oral Cancer Screening and Testing, RTM Testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Cytochrome P450 Genotype-Guided Treatment Strategy Corporate Medical Policy.

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    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 45-year-old adult with several months of postprandial nausea, early satiety, bloating, and intermittent vomiting is evaluated in a gastroenterology clinic. After history, physical exam, and initial testing (basic labs and upper endoscopy) fail to identify an obstruction or alternative cause, the gastroenterologist orders a noninvasive gastric emptying assessment. The patient presents to an outpatient breath testing facility or a hospital outpatient clinic on the test day after fasting overnight. The test uses the Cairn 13C–Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test (0106U) kit and protocol: the patient ingests a standardized solid meal labeled with 13C-spirulina, and serial breath samples are collected over the prescribed interval. Breath samples are analyzed by the laboratory performing the Proprietary Laboratory Analysis, and results reporting the rate of gastric emptying (e.g., T1/2 or percentage retained at time points) are returned to the ordering gastroenterologist. The ordering clinician integrates the 0106U result with clinical findings to guide management decisions such as prokinetic therapy, dietary modification, or further testing (e.g., gastric emptying scintigraphy if discordant or clinically necessary). Typical site of service is an outpatient ambulatory clinic, dedicated breath-testing laboratory, or hospital outpatient department. The service type is diagnostic gastroenterology functional testing using a proprietary breath assay.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    0106UCairn 13C–Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test — proprietary breath assay measuring rate of gastric emptying of solidsPrimary CPT PLA code for the specific proprietary diagnostic test; used to report the breath test result provided by Cairn Diagnostics
    91065Gastric emptying breath test (noninvasive)Alternative or historically used code for noninvasive breath testing; may be used by some labs or in workflows when a non-proprietary breath test is performed
    78267Gastric emptying study (by scintigraphy), 3 hours, with interpretation and reportStandard nuclear medicine gastric emptying scintigraphy often ordered when breath test is not available or for confirmation; may be performed before or after 0106U if clinical discrepancy exists
    82306Analysis of 13C in breath (stable isotope) (Note: example analyte code)Laboratory chemistry code for isotope analysis when reported in broader lab billing; used by some labs for technical component reporting alongside PLA codes
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, low to moderate complexityTypical E/M visit for pre-test evaluation, ordering of 0106U, and post-test management discussion
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the patient to the performing laboratory (specimen handling)Used when special specimen handling or transportation logistics apply for breath samples to the performing laboratory

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    208600000X
    207Q00000X
    207RC0000X
    2471V0105X
    106E00000X
    208U00000X
    273Y00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    E86.0Dehydration
    E86.1Hypovolemia
    E86.9Volume depletion, unspecified
    F45.0Somatization disorder
    F45.41Pain disorder exclusively related to psychological factors
    G43.909Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
    I95.1Orthostatic hypotension
    K21.9Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis
    K29.70Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Genetic & Molecular Testing1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Oral Cancer Screening and TestingOscar Health2027-01-01
    RTM Testing for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin DeficiencyOscar Health2027-01-01
    Cytochrome P450 Genotype-Guided Treatment Strategy Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2027-01-01
    Carrier Testing Panels for Genetic Diseases (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Genetic Testing for Neurological Disorders (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cell-Free Fetal DNA Testing (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Genetic and Molecular TestingProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Next Generation Sequencing for Minimal Residual Disease DetectionProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Pharmacogenetic Panel Testing (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Pharmacogenetic Panel TestingColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-0001U-PRECISETYPE-HEA-MULTIPLEX-RBC-ANTIGEN-GENOTYPING

    CPT 0001U: PreciseType HEA Erythrocyte Antigen Genotyping

    CPT-0002U-POLYPDX-URINE-METABOLOMIC-ASSAY-ADENOMATOUS-POLYP-RISK

    CPT 0002U: PolypDX™ Urine Metabolomic Risk Assay

    CPT-0003U-OVAR-A-NEXT-GENERATION-OVARIAN-CANCER-RISK-ASSAY

    CPT 0003U: Overa (MIA2G) Ovarian Cancer Risk Assay

    CPT-0005U-PROSTATE-EXOSOMEDX-INTELLISCORE-GENE-EXPRESSION-URINE-TEST

    CPT 0005U: ExosomeDx Prostate (IntelliScore) urine gene expression test

    CPT-0007U-TOXPROTECT-URINE-DRUG-SCREEN-WITH-DNA-AUTHENTICATION

    CPT 0007U: ToxProtect Urine Drug Screen With DNA Authentication

    CPT-0008U-H-PYLORI-ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE-SEQUENCING-PANEL

    CPT 0008U: H. pylori Antibiotic Resistance Gene Panel

    CPT-0009U-DEPARRAY-HER2-FISH-TUMOR-CELL-ISOLATION

    CPT 0009U: DEPArray HER2 Tumor‑Cell Isolation with FISH Analysis

    CPT-0010U-BACTERIAL-TYPING-WHOLE-GENOME-SEQUENCING-MAYO-CLINIC

    CPT 0010U: Bacterial Typing by Whole Genome Sequencing, Mayo Clinic

    CPT-0011U-CORDANT-CORE-ALGORITHMIC-ORAL-FLUID-DRUG-TEST

    CPT 0011U: Oral Fluid Drug Test with Algorithmic Steady‑State Comparison

    CPT-0016U-BCR-ABL1-MAJOR-MINOR-FUSION-TRANSCRIPT-TESTING

    CPT 0016U: BCR–ABL1 Major and Minor Breakpoint Fusion Transcripts

    Showing 1–10 of 536

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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