Summary & Overview
CPT 0568U: Plasma Alzheimer’s Biomarker Panel (LucentAD™ Complete)
CPT code 0568U designates a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) test — LucentAD™ Complete from Quanterix Corporation — that measures a panel of plasma protein biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s disease and reports results as positive, intermediate, or negative for Alzheimer’s pathology. This molecular array assay quantifies beta amyloid (Aβ40 and Aβ42) and their ratio, phosphorylated tau (e.g., pTau217), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The code matters nationally as blood-based biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s advances diagnostic pathways, influences care planning, and raises coverage and access considerations across payers.
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 service setting, an explanation of payer coverage landscapes and common billing modifiers, and context on how this PLA code fits into evolving Alzheimer’s diagnostics. The publication summarizes benchmarks and policy developments relevant to payer coverage decisions and provides clinical context for laboratory and outpatient settings. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0568U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code that applies exclusively to a single laboratory test: LucentAD™ Complete from Quanterix Corporation. The assay analyzes a blood sample to detect protein biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease, measuring beta amyloid (Aβ40 and Aβ42) and their ratio, phosphorylated tau (such as pTau217), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) using an ultrasensitive molecular array. Results are reported as positive, intermediate, or negative for Alzheimer’s pathology.
Service type: Laboratory diagnostic testing for Alzheimer’s-related plasma biomarkers
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital outpatient laboratory
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 65–80 year-old adult presenting to a neurology or memory clinic with progressive cognitive complaints, mild cognitive impairment, or concerns for early Alzheimer’s disease. The clinician documents history, cognitive testing (for example, MMSE or MoCA), medication review, and a diagnostic workup including neuroimaging (MRI/CT) and laboratory screening to exclude reversible causes. When biochemical Alzheimer's disease biomarkers are indicated to support diagnosis or aid risk stratification, a venous blood draw is ordered for the proprietary test 0568U (LucentAD™ Complete, Quanterix Corporation). The specimen is processed and shipped per the laboratory’s protocol; results are reported as positive, intermediate, or negative for Alzheimer’s pathology and routed to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service include outpatient neurology clinics, specialty memory centers, and independent or hospital-affiliated phlebotomy laboratories. The service type is proprietary laboratory analysis (PLA) performed on a blood sample using an ultrasensitive molecular array to quantify Aβ40, Aβ42, pTau (e.g., pTau217), NfL, and GFAP. Common clinical uses include diagnostic clarification in symptomatic patients, risk assessment in patients with mild cognitive impairment, and adjunctive information for counseling or eligibility assessment for disease‑specific interventions or clinical trials.
Coding Specifications
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