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.
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.
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Service type: Proprietary laboratory analysis measuring serum biomarkers and reporting a numeric
sFlt‑1/PlGFratio -
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. |