CPT code 0152U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the Karius® test, a plasma-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay that detects and reports potentially pathogenic organisms from cell-free microbial DNA. As a PLA code, 0152U identifies a single manufacturer-specific laboratory test and is used when that unique service is performed. This code is nationally relevant because plasma NGS assays expand diagnostic options for infectious disease evaluation, particularly in complex or culture-negative cases, and raise policy questions about coverage, clinical utility, and laboratory standards.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of coding and clinical context, a summary of payer coverage considerations and typical sites of service, and benchmarking information where available. The publication summarizes common billing modifiers and notes where input data are not provided. It clarifies what the code represents, the intended laboratory workflow (plasma specimen, clinical laboratory or hospital outpatient lab), and the clinical scenarios in which plasma NGS pathogen detection is used. Data not available in the input are explicitly identified in the body content rather than inferred.