Summary & Overview
CPT 0506U: EndoSign® Barrett’s Esophagus DNA Methylation Test
Headline: New CPT code 0506U identifies a proprietary methylation assay for Barrett’s esophagus
Lead: CPT code 0506U designates the EndoSign® Barrett’s Esophagus Test (Cyted Health Inc.), a proprietary next‑generation sequencing assay that evaluates DNA methylation patterns from esophageal cells and reports a likelihood score for Barrett’s esophagus. The code provides a standardized national identifier for billing and policy review of this single‑manufacturer laboratory test.
What this code represents and why it matters: CPT code 0506U is a PLA code reserved for one unique diagnostic assay. As molecular diagnostics proliferate, PLA codes like 0506U clarify when a result is tied to a specific commercial test, enabling payers and providers to track utilization, coverage, and clinical adoption for that exact product.
Key payers covered: Analysis includes major national payers: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
What readers will learn: The publication outlines clinical context for Barrett’s esophagus screening and surveillance, explains the technical basis of the EndoSign® methylation assay, and presents benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to PLA‑coded tests. Readers will find information on billing identification, typical sites of service, and the role of a PLA code in payer coverage discussions.
Scope: National—covers code definition, clinical context, payer landscape, and policy implications. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0506U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code that applies only to the EndoSign® Barrett’s Esophagus Test from Cyted Health Inc. The test uses next‑generation sequencing to analyze DNA methylation patterns in esophageal cells and generates a likelihood score for Barrett’s esophagus.
Service type: Proprietary laboratory diagnostic assay
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or reference laboratory processing esophageal cell specimens
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 55‑year‑old patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and endoscopic suspicion of Barrett’s esophagus provides an esophageal cell sample via brush or biopsied tissue collected during upper endoscopy. The sample is sent to a clinical laboratory that performs the EndoSign® Barrett’s Esophagus Test (Cyted Health Inc.), a next‑generation sequencing–based DNA methylation assay that produces a likelihood score for Barrett’s esophagus. The clinical workflow includes order entry by the gastroenterologist, collection of the specimen during EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), specimen labeling and shipment to the performing laboratory, processing and sequencing in a certified molecular pathology lab, generation of the EndoSign® report, and transmission of results to the ordering provider for use in surveillance and management decisions. Typical site of service is an outpatient endoscopy suite, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital outpatient department, with laboratory processing performed at the proprietary testing laboratory.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier | Use when no specific circumstances apply to the billed service |
26 | Professional component |