Summary & Overview
CPT 0112U: MicroGenDX qPCR & NGS Infection Test
CPT code 0112U designates a proprietary laboratory test — the MicroGenDX® qPCR & NGS for Infection — that pairs rapid quantitative PCR screening with next‑generation sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes to detect bacterial and fungal pathogens and identify antibiotic‑resistance genes. As a PLA code, 0112U applies to a single manufacturer’s test and is used when claims require a unique identifier for that product. Nationally, molecular infectious disease diagnostics are increasingly relevant for targeted antimicrobial therapy, infection control, and precision medicine, and PLA codes like 0112U help payers and providers track utilization of specific commercial assays.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical purpose, typical site of service, and the payer landscape. The publication also outlines what to expect from coverage benchmarking and policy documentation, highlights coding context for laboratory services, and provides clinical context on how combined qPCR and NGS testing contributes to pathogen detection and resistance profiling. Data not provided in the input (such as associated taxonomies, specific ICD‑10 diagnoses, or related codes) are noted as unavailable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0112U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the MicroGenDX® qPCR & NGS for Infection test from MicroGenDX®. The test combines quantitative PCR (qPCR) for rapid screening and next generation sequencing (NGS) targeting 16S and 18S rRNA genes to detect and identify infectious bacteria and fungi, respectively, and to determine antibiotic resistance by detecting drug‑resistance genes.
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Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test combining molecular screening (qPCR) and sequencing (NGS) for infectious organisms and resistance markers
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or reference laboratory performing molecular infectious disease testing
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient presents to an outpatient infectious disease clinic with a nonhealing diabetic foot ulcer that has failed empiric antibiotic therapy and shows signs of persistent local infection with purulence and increased erythema. Prior wound cultures have been inconclusive or grew mixed flora. The treating clinician orders the MicroGenDX® qPCR & NGS for Infection test to identify bacteria and fungi and detect resistance genes to guide targeted antimicrobial therapy. The clinical workflow begins with wound specimen collection (swab, tissue, or aspirate) in clinic or at an ambulatory wound center, proper chain-of-custody and transport to the reference laboratory, performance of rapid quantitative PCR screening followed by next-generation sequencing (16S for bacteria, 18S for fungi), laboratory interpretation including resistance gene detection, and delivery of a comprehensive report to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centers for specimen collection, hospital outpatient departments, and reference laboratories performing the PLA test. The test is used when standard culture is limited or prior antibiotics may have suppressed growth, when polymicrobial or fastidious organisms are suspected, or when rapid identification and resistance profiling are needed to optimize therapy.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Service furnished without modifier | Standard reporting when no modifier applies |