Summary & Overview
CPT 78110: Single-Sample Plasma Volume Determination
CPT code 78110 denotes a single-sample plasma volume determination using an injected radioactive tracer and post-mixing concentration measurement. This nuclear medicine diagnostic procedure quantifies plasma volume, informing fluid management, hematologic assessment, and preprocedural evaluations. Nationally, accurate reporting of this code supports clinical decision-making and proper classification of nuclear medicine services.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an orientation to the clinical purpose of the test, typical sites of service (hospital outpatient, inpatient, and freestanding imaging/nuclear medicine clinics), and the role of the single-sample method relative to other plasma volume measurement techniques.
The publication provides benchmarks and coding context where available, explains common use cases and clinical scenarios in which a plasma volume study is ordered, and summarizes implications for billing workflows. Data not available in the input is identified explicitly. This summary is aimed at clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference to the clinical intent and billing context of CPT code 78110 on a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 78110 describes a diagnostic procedure to determine plasma volume by introducing a known quantity of radioactive material into a patient's blood and measuring its concentration after adequate mixing. This code represents a single-sample plasma volume determination.
Service type: Nuclear medicine diagnostic test (single-sample plasma volume study)
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, hospital inpatient setting, or freestanding imaging/nuclear medicine clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old male with chronic liver disease and refractory ascites is referred for plasma volume determination to evaluate intravascular volume status prior to large-volume paracentesis and consideration for vasopressor therapy. The nuclear medicine department schedules a single-sample plasma volume study using a radioisotope-labeled tracer. On arrival the patient undergoes verification of identity and consent, assessment for recent contrast or isotope exposure, and review of medications that could affect plasma volume. A registered nuclear medicine technologist obtains an initial blood sample, the provider injects a calibrated dose of the radioactive tracer intravenously, and after adequate mixing time a timed single blood sample is drawn. The sample is sent to the on-site laboratory or counted in a gamma counter to measure tracer concentration. The reporting physician interprets the calculated plasma volume in the clinical context, documenting technique, isotope used, injected activity, time of sampling, calculations, and the result in the medical record. Results are used to guide fluid management decisions such as diuretic dosing, transfusion strategy, or procedural planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal, or more than minimal, decision making and services | When this is the primary, telemetry-attended diagnostic procedure performed with routine complexity |