Summary & Overview
CPT 0248U: 3D Predict Glioma, Ex Vivo Drug Response Test
CPT code 0248U designates a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) test—Kiyatec® Inc.'s 3D Predict Glioma—that uses patient-derived tumor cells cultured in a three-dimensional platform to forecast tumor response to 12 oncology drugs. As a PLA code, 0248U applies to a single, manufacturer-specific assay and provides a discrete reporting mechanism for payers and providers evaluating advanced functional precision oncology diagnostics. Nationally, PLA codes like 0248U matter because they enable tracking and payment clarity for proprietary assays that lack generic CPT equivalents.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will learn the clinical context of the assay, typical settings where the service is performed, and the scope of services the code represents. The publication summarizes available benchmarks and policy considerations for proprietary laboratory tests, clarifies billing scope and service type, and outlines payer coverage landscape where available. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly. The content is intended for national audiences including payers, laboratory administrators, clinicians involved in neuro-oncology care, and revenue cycle professionals seeking concise clarity on what CPT code 0248U represents.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0248U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the 3D Predict Glioma test from Kiyatec® Inc. The test creates a patient-specific 3D cell culture platform using cancer cells from the patient to predict treatment response of primary brain tumors or brain metastases to a panel of 12 cancer drugs.
Service Type: Proprietary laboratory diagnostic test using ex vivo 3D cell culture to predict drug response
Typical Site of Service: Clinical diagnostic laboratory or specialized pathology/molecular laboratory with reporting to treating clinicians
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related billing codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed or recurrent intracranial tumor (primary glioma or brain metastasis) undergoes surgical biopsy or resection. Fresh tumor tissue is sent to the laboratory to generate the proprietary 3D Predict Glioma assay from Kiyatec® Inc. The laboratory creates patient-specific 3D cell culture platforms from the tumor specimen and tests sensitivity to a panel of up to 12 anticancer agents. Results report predicted drug response to inform multidisciplinary tumor board discussion and selection of systemic therapy or targeted agents. Typical workflow: tissue collection in the operating room or interventional suite → sterile transport to the pathology/lab courier → specimen processing and cell culture in a specialized molecular/functional assay laboratory → analytic run and quality control → report delivered to the ordering neuro-oncologist, neurosurgeon, or medical oncologist. Typical site of service: hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical setting for tissue procurement; independent clinical laboratory or hospital molecular diagnostics lab for assay performance. Typical patient scenario: postoperative management planning for a patient with high-grade glioma or solitary brain metastasis where standard therapies are considered and individualized drug sensitivity data are desired to guide systemic therapy selection.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When only the professional component of a test is billed separately (interpretation by physician) and the technical component is billed by another entity. |