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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesUrinalysis ProceduresCPT cpt-81002-manual-urinalysis-reagent-strip-tablet
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    CPT 81002: Manual Urine Dipstick Chemical Analysis

    Commercial payers pay $10 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 81002 describes a manual urine reagent strip or tablet analysis where a laboratory analyst immerses or applies drops of a freshly collected urine specimen to a dipstick or reagent tablet, removes excess, allows the specified reaction time, and visually reads one or more analytes against a color chart; service type: manual urine chemical analysis (non-microscopic); typical site of service: clinical laboratory, point-of-care locations such as physician offices, urgent care, or outpatient clinics where rapid urine screening is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    National commercial rates for CPT 81002 center around BUCA’s average commercial benchmark of $10.4, with individual payer medians clustered both below and above that level. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s median sits higher at $15.8, while Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group have medians near $3.5, $3.4, and $3.1 respectively. Cigna and UnitedHealth Group show relatively low upper tails (P90s at $5.7 and $5.9) compared with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s much higher P90 of $25.6, indicating significant variability at the top end for that payer.

    Examining dispersion via the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) highlights differences in consistency: Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $11.5 (P75 $20.7 minus P25 $9.5), reflecting broad mid-range variability, while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest with an IQR of $1.5 (P75 $3.6 minus P25 $2.1). Aetna’s IQR is $3.5 and Cigna’s is $2.5; BUCA’s quartiles imply an IQR of $7.0 (P75 $13.9 minus P25 $6.4), positioning BUCA between the narrowest and widest payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient clinic or urgent care with symptoms such as dysuria, urinary frequency, lower abdominal discomfort, or for routine screening (e.g., pregnancy or preoperative assessment). A freshly collected, unpreserved midstream urine specimen is handed to the laboratory or point-of-care tester. A clinical laboratory assistant or trained medical assistant inserts a urine dipstick or places drops of urine on a reagent tablet, waits the manufacturer-specified interval, and visually compares color changes to the color chart on the container to read one or more analytes (for example, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, blood, protein, glucose, ketones, or pH). No microscopic examination is performed. Results are recorded in the patient chart or laboratory information system and reported to the ordering provider, who integrates the findings with the clinical assessment to guide management such as empiric therapy, further urine culture, or additional diagnostic testing.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    81001Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, protein, etc.; automated, with microscopyAutomated analyzers may perform similar chemical testing with automated reading; 81001 represents automated methods compared to manual reading in .

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    99Modifier 99 is a placeholder modifier used when more modifiers apply to a single procedure than the claim form or electronic field allows. The AMA classifies it under Provider Services and Ambulatory…- Use CPT modifier -99 when more modifiers apply to a single procedure line than the claim form or payer field allows (CMS/Noridian: when more than four modifiers are needed); append modifier 99 on…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363L00000X
    207L00000X
    207R00000X
    207Q00000X
    2251E1300X
    2086S0122X
    364SP0809X
    246QL0901X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    21 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.22Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic chronic kidney disease
    E11.29Type 2 diabetes mellitus with other diabetic kidney complication
    E86.0Dehydration
    N10Acute pyelonephritis
    N11.0Nonobstructive reflux-associated chronic pyelonephritis
    N12Tubulo-interstitial nephritis, not specified as acute or chronic
    N15.1Renal and perinephric abscess
    N18.9Chronic kidney disease, unspecified
    N20.0Calculus of kidney
    N20.1Calculus of ureter

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-81000-URINALYSIS-DIP-STICK-AND-MICROSCOPIC-EXAM

    CPT 81000: Manual Urinalysis with Microscopy

    CPT-81001-URINALYSIS-DIPSTICK-OR-TABLET-REAGENT

    CPT 81001: Urinalysis by Dipstick or Tablet Reagent

    CPT-81003-AUTOMATED-URINE-DIPSTICK-ANALYSIS

    CPT 81003: Automated Urinalysis Dipstick with Instrumented Reader

    CPT-81005-URINE-ANALYTE-QUALITATIVE-SEMIQUANTITATIVE

    CPT 81005: Urine Qualitative or Semiquantitative Analyte Test

    CPT-81007-URINE-BACTERIURIA-NONCULTURE-NONDIPSTICK-TEST

    CPT 81007: Nonculture, Nondipstick Urinalysis for Bacteriuria

    CPT-81015-MICROSCOPIC-URINALYSIS-LABORATORY-EXAMINATION

    CPT 81015: Microscopic Urinalysis, Sediment Examination

    CPT-81020-MICROSCOPIC-URINALYSIS-MULTIPLE-GLASS-COLLECTIONS

    CPT 81020: Microscopic Urine Examination of Multiple Specimens

    CPT-81025-URINE-PREGNANCY-TEST-VISUAL-READ

    CPT 81025: Urine Pregnancy Test, Analyst-Read Visual

    CPT-81050-TIMED-URINE-COLLECTION-VOLUME-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 81050: Timed Urine Volume Measurement

    CPT-81099-UNLISTED-URINE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 81099: Unlisted Urine Procedure

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    81002
    81003Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent; automated, without microscopyRelated automated dipstick testing without microscopic analysis; used when instrumentation provides the readout.
    81007Urinalysis, microscopic onlyPerformed when microscopic examination of urinary sediment is required in addition to chemical testing; typically follows or accompanies dipstick testing when indicated.
    87086Culture, bacterial; urine, quantitative, colony count, per sourceOrdered when dipstick suggests infection (e.g., positive nitrite or leukocyte esterase) and culture is needed for organism identification and susceptibility.
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureMay be performed concurrently when urine dipstick results prompt additional laboratory testing requiring blood samples (e.g., metabolic panel).