Summary & Overview
CPT 38210: T-Cell–Depleted Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Preparation
CPT code 38210 designates preparation of hematopoietic progenitor cells with minimized T-cell content to lower the risk of graft rejection in transplantation. This cellular product manipulation is central to hematopoietic stem cell and bone marrow transplant workflows and matters nationally because it affects transplant safety, perioperative immunologic outcomes, and payer coverage policies for complex cellular therapies. Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of CPT code 38210 including clinical context for T-cell depletion, common sites of service, and the role this preparation plays in transplant programs. The publication summarizes payer coverage patterns, reimbursement benchmarks, and relevant policy considerations that influence access to T-cell–reduced HPC products. Additional sections provide procedural definitions, coding notes, and operational considerations for facilities that perform cellular product preparation. Data not available in the input will be indicated where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 38210 describes a procedure in which the provider prepares hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) to contain minimal numbers of T cells to reduce the risk of graft rejection. This service is a form of cellular product manipulation intended to alter the immune cell composition prior to transplantation.
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Service type: Cellular product preparation / T-cell depletion
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Typical site of service: Hospital-based infusion center, apheresis center, or specialized cellular therapy laboratory
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieves remission after induction chemotherapy and is scheduled for an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant from an HLA-matched related donor. The transplant team orders preparation of the donor hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) product to reduce T-lymphocyte content (T-cell depletion) to minimize the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and immunologic rejection. The donor undergoes mobilization and apheresis at an outpatient apheresis suite within an academic medical center or specialized transplant center. Collected peripheral blood stem cell units are transferred to the cellular therapy laboratory where trained laboratory technologists and transfusion medicine specialists perform T-cell depletion procedures per institutional protocol, including methods such as CD34+ selection, positive selection of progenitor cells, or other techniques that produce a product with minimal T cells. The processed HPC product is tested for cell counts, viability, infectious disease markers, and sterility, then transported under controlled conditions to the transplant operating room or inpatient bone marrow transplant unit for infusion into the recipient. Typical site of service includes inpatient bone marrow transplant units, outpatient apheresis centers, and hospital-based cellular therapy laboratories. The clinical workflow includes donor evaluation and mobilization, apheresis collection, laboratory processing for T-cell reduction, quality control testing, product release, and infusion into the recipient with appropriate documentation at each step.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 |