Summary & Overview
CPT 0279U: Versiti VWF Collagen III Binding ELISA, Plasma
CPT code 0279U identifies a proprietary laboratory assay — the Versiti™ VWF Collagen III Binding test — that measures von Willebrand Factor binding to collagen III using an ELISA on plasma specimens. As a PLA code, 0279U is specific to a single manufacturer and laboratory; it signals unique clinical utility for evaluating platelet adhesion at collagen III binding sites in bleeding and hemostasis assessments. Nationally, PLA codes like 0279U matter because they designate tests that may have distinct coverage, billing, and clinical-use considerations compared with non-proprietary assays.
Key payers 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 and testing method, typical site-of-service information, and the payer landscape covered. The publication outlines benchmark topics typically addressed for PLA assays, including coverage patterns, billing and coding considerations, and clinical context for ordering the test. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0279U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the Versiti™ VWF Collagen III Binding test performed by Versiti™ Diagnostic Laboratories. The code applies only to this single, proprietary laboratory assay. Report 0279U when using a plasma specimen to perform the von Willebrand Factor (VWF) collagen III binding assay by enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate platelet adhesion related to collagen III binding sites.
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Service type: Laboratory diagnostic assay (proprietary PLA test)
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Typical site of service: Reference or specialty diagnostic laboratory (Versiti™ Diagnostic Laboratories)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old woman with a history of mucocutaneous bleeding and a previous normal von Willebrand factor antigen but abnormal bleeding assessment is referred for specialized hemostasis testing. The clinician orders the Versiti™ VWF Collagen III Binding assay (0279U) to evaluate von Willebrand factor function at collagen III binding sites. Blood is collected into a plasma specimen at the outpatient laboratory or hospital phlebotomy center and sent to Versiti™ Diagnostic Laboratories. The typical workflow includes: phlebotomy with proper anticoagulant and handling, plasma separation and freezing if required, shipment under validated conditions to the reference lab, performance of the ELISA-based VWF collagen III binding assay, and reporting of quantitative binding results back to the ordering hematologist. Indications include unexplained bleeding, suspected qualitative VWF defects, discrepant laboratory VWF results, or evaluation prior to surgery in patients with bleeding history. Typical sites of service are outpatient specialty clinics, hospital laboratories that do not perform the assay on site, and reference laboratory settings. Patient counseling and downstream management decisions are performed by the ordering hematology or coagulation specialist based on assay results and clinical correlation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional/interpretive component of a laboratory service if applicable and separately billable by a provider entity. |
90 | Reference laboratory | Use when the test is performed by a qualified independent reference laboratory other than the ordering/location facility. |
TC | Technical component | Use when reporting only the technical component of the test (laboratory processing, reagents, instrumentation). |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the laboratory service was partially reduced or not performed to full protocol, with documentation of the reduction. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when specimen processing was started but the test was discontinued for clinical or technical reasons. |
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work or resources substantially exceed typical service, with documentation justifying additional payment. |
90 | Reference laboratory | Use when the performing lab is an independent reference lab (duplicate of above for emphasis in mixed-billing scenarios). |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Data not available in the input. |
QK | Nurse practitioner billing — primary payor designations | Use when appropriate for clinician billing relationships (applies to certain payor arrangements). |
QX | Modifier for ordering/servicing split: assistant-at-surgery | Use only where applicable to procedural billing relationships. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207RH0000X | Hematology | Hematologists commonly order and interpret VWF functional assays. |
2080P0207X | Pathology—Clinical | Clinical pathologists or coagulation labs may oversee assay performance and reporting. |
207RN0400X | Hematology/Oncology | Specialists managing bleeding disorders and perioperative hemostasis. |
363A00000X | Clinical Laboratory | Laboratory directors and medical technologists responsible for test performance and quality control. |
174400000X | Ambulatory Care Laboratory | Facilities coordinating specimen collection and shipment to the reference lab. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
D68.0 | von Willebrand disease | Primary indication for VWF functional testing, including collagen III binding. |
R58 | Hemorrhage, not elsewhere classified | Evaluation of unexplained bleeding episodes where VWF function is assessed. |
D69.5 | Secondary thrombocytopenia | Differentiation of platelet-related bleeding from VWF-mediated dysfunction. |
R02 | Gangrene (not typically related) | Data not available in the input. |
Z41.1 | Encounter for immunization | Data not available in the input. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
80053 | Comprehensive metabolic panel, 14 tests | Preoperative or baseline metabolic testing commonly ordered concurrently with specialty hemostasis testing. |
85210 | Platelet function assay (e.g., platelet aggregation) | Performed when platelet function defects are considered alongside VWF functional testing. |
85300 | Prothrombin time (PT) | Basic coagulation screening test often ordered in the initial bleeding workup. |
85576 | von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) | Quantitative VWF antigen test commonly ordered with functional assays like VWF collagen binding. |
85730 | Thrombin time (TT) | Additional coagulation tests used in a comprehensive bleeding disorder evaluation. |