Summary & Overview
CPT 0444U: Aventa FusionPlus™ NGS 361-Gene Solid Tumor Panel
CPT code 0444U designates a proprietary next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeted panel — Aventa FusionPlus™ from Aventa Genomics — that evaluates DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue across 361 genes linked to solid-organ neoplasms. As a PLA code, 0444U is specific to a single manufacturer's test and signals precision oncology testing that can inform molecular diagnosis, tumor profiling, and potential therapeutic decision-making. Nationally, PLA codes like 0444U matter because they standardize reporting for unique commercial assays and affect coverage pathways, prior authorization workflows, and claim adjudication for advanced molecular diagnostics.
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 test's clinical purpose and technical scope, a summary of payer coverage considerations and typical sites of service, and benchmarks or policy context relevant to proprietary NGS assays. The publication will also highlight common modifier usage and identify gaps where input data were not provided. This material is intended to inform billing, coding, and policy teams managing claims and coverage for high-complexity, tumor-based NGS panels.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0444U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code that applies exclusively to the Aventa FusionPlus™ test from Aventa Genomics. The test uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeted sequence analysis to evaluate DNA from a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sample for a panel of 361 genes associated with solid-organ neoplasms.
Service Type: Laboratory — Molecular Pathology / NGS Targeted Panel
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or reference molecular diagnostics laboratory, with specimen originating from hospital, outpatient clinic, or pathology service
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 64-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma undergoes tumor biopsy. The treating oncologist orders comprehensive genomic profiling to identify actionable somatic alterations that guide targeted therapy and clinical trial eligibility. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue from the biopsy is sent to the reference laboratory that performs the Aventa FusionPlus™ assay. The laboratory uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeted panel analysis of 361 cancer-associated genes to detect single nucleotide variants, insertions/deletions, copy number alterations, and gene fusions relevant to solid-organ neoplasms. The clinical workflow includes: tissue accessioning and pathology review for tumor content, nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, variant interpretation by molecular pathologists, and a final report returned to the ordering oncologist to inform systemic therapy selection, targeted agents, and clinical trial matching.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Standard use when no modifier applies |
22 | Increased procedural services |