Summary & Overview
CPT 0246U: PrecisionBlood™ Extended Blood Group Genotyping
CPT code 0246U designates a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) test exclusively for PrecisionBlood™, a genotyping assay by San Diego Blood Bank that evaluates at least 16 blood groups and the expression of at least 51 red blood cell antigens. The test supports clinical decision-making to reduce blood–type incompatibility reactions in transfusion management and maternal–newborn care. Nationally, specialized PLA codes like 0246U are important for capturing technology-specific laboratory services and ensuring appropriate coding for novel diagnostics.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for extended antigen genotyping, typical sites of service, and the implications of a PLA designation for billing and coverage. The publication summarizes common modifiers associated with laboratory reporting, discusses payer considerations, and outlines where data is available versus where input was not provided. This briefing equips coding, laboratory, and policy professionals with concise information on the code’s purpose, clinical application, and relevance to payer reimbursement pathways.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0246U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code that applies exclusively to the PrecisionBlood™ test from San Diego Blood Bank. The code reports a genotype analysis performed on a blood specimen that evaluates at least 16 blood groups and the expression of at least 51 red blood cell antigens. The test is intended to help clinicians minimize adverse blood–type incompatibility reactions in transfusion settings and in pregnancy and newborn care.
Service type: Genotype analysis for extended blood group antigen profiling
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory (blood specimen collection and laboratory testing environment)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 32-year-old pregnant patient with a history of multiple prior transfusions and a known rare red blood cell alloantibody profile presents for prenatal care. The obstetrician orders the PrecisionBlood™ genotype assay (reportable with 0246U) to characterize maternal and paternal red blood cell antigen genotypes across at least 16 blood group systems and 51 antigens to guide transfusion planning and fetal/neonatal risk assessment. A blood specimen is collected in the outpatient laboratory or hospital phlebotomy unit. The specimen is sent to the San Diego Blood Bank laboratory where the proprietary test performs targeted DNA-based genotyping. Results are reported to the ordering clinician and the hospital transfusion service to minimize alloimmunization risk, select antigen-matched blood for transfusion if needed, and inform monitoring for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Typical workflow steps: order placement in the electronic health record, specimen collection and proper labeling, courier transport to the performing lab, receipt and accessioning at the San Diego Blood Bank, molecular genotype testing using the proprietary platform, verification and reporting to the ordering provider and transfusion medicine service, and incorporation of results into the patient’s transfusion plan and obstetric record.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Unspecified | Rarely used; only when no more specific modifier applies and payer accepts. |