Summary & Overview

CPT 0482U: Preeclampsia sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio (PERA) Test

CPT code 0482U designates a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) test: the Preeclampsia sFlt‑1/PlGF Ratio (PERA) from Mayo Clinic. The test quantifies serum sFlt‑1 and PlGF and reports their ratio to stratify short‑term risk of severe preeclampsia progression, informing clinical monitoring and risk assessment in pregnant patients. As a PLA code, 0482U applies uniquely to a single manufacturer's or laboratory's test, which has implications for payer coverage policies, laboratory billing, and clinical adoption.

Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise national view of what CPT code 0482U represents, why it matters for maternal‑fetal care pathways, and the categories of information typically examined in coverage and billing reviews: clinical utility, placement within maternal care workflows, coding specificity due to PLA designation, and implications for laboratory service lines. The publication outlines benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to payers and billing professionals, summarizes clinical context for interpreting the sFlt‑1/PlGF ratio, and identifies areas where payer policy language commonly appears. Data not available in the input include payer‑specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rates, and associated ICD‑10 diagnosis mappings.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare0482UCPTProprietary Laboratory AnalysespreeclampsiasFlt-1PlGFmaternal-fetal-medicinelaboratory

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 0482U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code for the Preeclampsia sFlt‑1/PlGF Ratio (PERA) test developed by Mayo Clinic. The test measures serum levels of soluble fms‑like tyrosine kinase‑1 (sFlt‑1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) and reports their ratio to assess the risk of progression to severe preeclampsia within two weeks.

Service type: Proprietary laboratory analysis measuring serum biomarkers and reporting a numeric sFlt‑1/PlGF ratio
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory processing serum specimens

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A pregnant patient in the second or third trimester presents to obstetrics for evaluation of new-onset hypertension, proteinuria, or clinical signs concerning for preeclampsia (eg, severe headache, visual changes, epigastric pain). The clinician orders the Preeclampsia sFlt‑1/PlGF Ratio (PERA) test (0482U) from Mayo Clinic to help risk-stratify for imminent progression to severe preeclampsia. Blood is drawn in an outpatient obstetrics clinic or antepartum triage unit and sent to the Mayo Clinic reference laboratory. Results (the sFlt‑1 and PlGF values and their ratio) return to the ordering provider within the lab’s stated turnaround time and are incorporated into the patient’s antepartum plan of care, including decisions about observation, inpatient admission, timing of delivery, and frequency of fetal surveillance.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional interpretation component if applicable and separately billable.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when reporting only the technical component (eg, laboratory processing) if separated from professional interpretation.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the laboratory performed a modified or partial version of the test resulting in reduced services.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when specimen processing was started but discontinued for clinical or technical reasons.
`62`	Two surgeons	Rare for laboratory testing; use if two physicians from different specialties both provide distinct billable professional interpretation services.
`78`	Unplanned return to operating/procedure room	Generally not applicable to this lab test; report only if a related invasive procedure required immediate return.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Not typically applicable; includes when an assistant surgeon performs a billable role in a related procedure.
`82`	Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available)	Not typically applicable; rarely used in this context.
`90`	Reference (outside) lab (note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`QK`	Medical Direction of 2–4 CRNAs (note: limited relevance)	Use only when medical direction of certified registered nurse anesthetists occurred for a related procedure.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207P00000X`	Obstetrics & Gynecology	OB/GYN physicians commonly order and interpret results for maternal-fetal management.
`390200000X`	Maternal-Fetal Medicine	Specialists in high-risk pregnancy manage interpretation and care when results indicate elevated risk.
`363A00000X`	Pathology & Laboratory Medicine	Laboratory physicians oversee test validation, reporting, and interpretation at reference labs.
`172500000X`	Clinical Laboratory	Medical technologists and laboratory directors perform assay processing and quality control.
`207L00000X`	Family Medicine	Primary care and family medicine providers may order the test in obstetric patients.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`O14.03`	Mild to moderate pre-eclampsia, third trimester	Indicates preeclampsia diagnosis; sFlt‑1/PlGF ratio helps assess risk of progression.
`O14.12`	Severe pre-eclampsia, second trimester	Used when severe features suspected; test informs short-term progression risk.
`O13.9`	Gestational (pregnancy-induced) hypertension without significant proteinuria, unspecified trimester	Hypertensive pregnant patients without proteinuria may have the test to clarify risk.
`O14.90`	Unspecified pre-eclampsia, unspecified trimester	When preeclampsia is suspected but not fully characterized; assay aids risk stratification.
`O16`	Unspecified maternal hypertension in pregnancy	Broad hypertensive conditions in pregnancy where the clinician may use the test to evaluate preeclampsia risk.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`84702`	Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) assay (quantitative)	Not directly related to preeclampsia risk stratification but commonly ordered in prenatal laboratory panels earlier in pregnancy.
`81025`	Urine pregnancy test, qualitative	Frequently used in initial pregnancy assessment; urine protein testing complements preeclampsia evaluation.
`82040`	Assay of protein, total, in serum	May be performed as part of broader laboratory evaluation; not specific to sFlt‑1/PlGF testing.
`84166`	Protein, total, serum (note: generic)	General chemistry tests that can be part of the workup for maternal conditions.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen (note: ancillary)	Used by some payors/labs for specimen handling; practices vary.