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CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

Headline: CPT code 81379 defines high-resolution molecular testing for HLA Class I loci — a key component of transplantation compatibility and immunogenetics.

Lead: CPT code 81379 represents allele-level, high-resolution laboratory testing of human leukocyte antigen Class I genes (HLA–A, HLA–B, HLA–C). This specialized molecular assay matters nationally because HLA matching affects organ and stem cell transplant outcomes, donor selection, and certain immunologic evaluations.

Why it matters: High-resolution HLA typing informs transplant compatibility and post-transplant immune monitoring. As precision medicine and transplant volumes evolve, access to and coverage of allele-level HLA testing remain important for clinical decision-making and payer policy development.

Key payers covered: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

What readers will learn: This publication provides benchmarks and a concise policy and clinical context for CPT code 81379, including typical sites of service and the clinical role of Class I HLA high-resolution typing. It outlines payer coverage landscape at a national level, common coding considerations, and operational implications for laboratory services. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 81379 describes a high-resolution molecular laboratory test that assesses human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes for all Class I loci. The test includes analysis of Class I loci HLA–A, HLA–B, and HLA–C using molecular techniques to provide allele-level (high-resolution) typing.

Service type: High-resolution molecular HLA Class I typing (laboratory technical component)
Typical site of service: Clinical molecular laboratory or hospital laboratory performing specialized genetic testing

Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

Headline: CPT code 81379 defines high-resolution molecular testing for HLA Class I loci — a key component of transplantation compatibility and immunogenetics.

Key payers covered: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 81379 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 81379 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

Service type: High-resolution molecular HLA Class I typing (laboratory technical component)
Typical site of service: Clinical molecular laboratory or hospital laboratory performing specialized genetic testing

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease is evaluated for kidney transplantation. The transplant team orders high-resolution HLA Class I typing to determine donor-recipient compatibility. A peripheral blood sample is collected in the clinic and sent to the molecular diagnostics laboratory. The lab analyst performs 81379 to generate high-resolution sequence-based typing for HLA–A, –B, and –C loci. Results are integrated into the transplant compatibility report, used alongside HLA Class II typing, crossmatch results, and antibody screening to guide donor selection and immunologic risk assessment. Typical workflow: sample collection → accessioning → DNA extraction → PCR amplification and sequencing/molecular analysis → allele assignment and reporting. Typical site of service: outpatient clinic, hospital-based blood draw area, or specialized molecular diagnostics laboratory.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the professional interpretation/reporting portion separate from the technical lab work.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the laboratory technical component of the test.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use for repeat testing on the same patient when clinically indicated and reported separately from the original.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when this molecular HLA test is distinct from another service performed on the same day (e.g., separate locus testing) and not typically bundled.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory and results are sent back to the ordering provider.
`52`	Reduced services	Use if the lab performs a reduced component of the procedure compared with full `81379` (document extent).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if testing was started but discontinued for documented reasons before completion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when the HLA Class I high-resolution test is clinically distinct from another simultaneously billed service.
`QK`	Laboratory proficiency testing	Use for samples submitted for proficiency testing when applicable.
`QX`	Modifier certifying CLIA personnel	Use when an appropriately qualified laboratory technician performed the technical portion under CLIA rules (when required by payer).
`QY`	Qualified nonphysician laboratory billing	Use when a qualified nonphysician practitioner bills for the service per payer rules.
`90`	Outside lab (duplicate)	Use to indicate testing performed by an external laboratory (reference lab).

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207Q00000X`	Clinical Molecular Genetics Laboratory	Labs performing high-resolution HLA molecular testing.
`207L00000X`	Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Pathology departments that oversee molecular diagnostic testing.
`2080P0208X`	Transplant Surgery	Clinicians ordering HLA testing for donor/recipient matching.
`208000000X`	Nephrology	Common ordering specialty for kidney transplant candidates.
`207LP2900X`	Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory	Specialized molecular diagnostics labs conducting sequence-based HLA typing.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`Z94.0`	Kidney transplant status	Indicates a transplant candidate or recipient where HLA Class I typing guides donor-recipient matching and post-transplant monitoring.
`Z48.21`	Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant	Post-transplant patients undergo HLA testing for surveillance and assessment of compatibility in re-transplant or immunologic evaluation.
`N18.6`	End stage renal disease	ESRD patients are frequent candidates for kidney transplantation and require HLA typing during evaluation.
`Z85.3`	Personal history of malignant neoplasm of kidney	Patients with prior nephrectomy for malignancy undergoing transplant evaluation may require HLA testing as part of pre-transplant workup.
`D47.Z9`	Myelodysplastic syndromes, unspecified	Hematologic patients considered for stem cell transplant require high-resolution HLA typing for donor selection.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`81379`	HLA class I high-resolution molecular typing of loci A, B, C	Primary procedure for high-resolution Class I HLA typing.
`81275`	HLA typing, class II; DRB1 and DRB3/4/5 (sequence-based typing)	Often performed alongside Class I typing to complete donor-recipient HLA profile.
`86840`	HLA tissue typing; complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch	Related pre-transplant compatibility testing; functional crossmatch complements molecular typing.
`86880`	Flow cytometry crossmatch	Performed before transplantation to detect donor-specific antibodies complementary to molecular HLA results.
`86355`	Immunoassay for antibody detection (e.g., Luminex single antigen)	Used to identify anti-HLA antibodies that inform interpretation of high-resolution typing.

CPT 81370: HLA Class I and II Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81371-HLA-A-B-DRB1-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81371: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DRB1 Low/Intermediate Resolution Typing

CPT-81372-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81372: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81373-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81373: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate Resolution Molecular Test

CPT-81374-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81374: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate-Resolution Testing

CPT-81375-HLA-CLASS-II-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81375: HLA Class II Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81376-HLA-CLASS-II-TYPING-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TECHNICAL

CPT 81376: HLA Class II Typing, Low/Intermediate-Resolution Technical

CPT-81377-HLA-CLASS-II-ALLELE-GROUP-TYPING-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81377: HLA Class II Allele Group Typing, Low/Intermediate Resolution

CPT-81378-HLA-HIGH-RESOLUTION-MOLECULAR-TYPING-CLASS-I-II-DRB1

CPT 81378: High-Resolution HLA Class I and II Molecular Typing

CPT-81380-HLA-HIGH-RESOLUTION-CLASS-I-TYPING

CPT 81380: High-Resolution HLA Class I Molecular Typing

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the professional interpretation/reporting portion separate from the technical lab work.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the laboratory technical component of the test.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use for repeat testing on the same patient when clinically indicated and reported separately from the original.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when this molecular HLA test is distinct from another service performed on the same day (e.g., separate locus testing) and not typically bundled.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory and results are sent back to the ordering provider.
`52`	Reduced services	Use if the lab performs a reduced component of the procedure compared with full `81379` (document extent).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if testing was started but discontinued for documented reasons before completion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when the HLA Class I high-resolution test is clinically distinct from another simultaneously billed service.
`QK`	Laboratory proficiency testing	Use for samples submitted for proficiency testing when applicable.
`QX`	Modifier certifying CLIA personnel	Use when an appropriately qualified laboratory technician performed the technical portion under CLIA rules (when required by payer).
`QY`	Qualified nonphysician laboratory billing	Use when a qualified nonphysician practitioner bills for the service per payer rules.
`90`	Outside lab (duplicate)	Use to indicate testing performed by an external laboratory (reference lab).

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207Q00000X`	Clinical Molecular Genetics Laboratory	Labs performing high-resolution HLA molecular testing.
`207L00000X`	Pathology and Laboratory Medicine	Pathology departments that oversee molecular diagnostic testing.
`2080P0208X`	Transplant Surgery	Clinicians ordering HLA testing for donor/recipient matching.
`208000000X`	Nephrology	Common ordering specialty for kidney transplant candidates.
`207LP2900X`	Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory	Specialized molecular diagnostics labs conducting sequence-based HLA typing.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`Z94.0`	Kidney transplant status	Indicates a transplant candidate or recipient where HLA Class I typing guides donor-recipient matching and post-transplant monitoring.
`Z48.21`	Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant	Post-transplant patients undergo HLA testing for surveillance and assessment of compatibility in re-transplant or immunologic evaluation.
`N18.6`	End stage renal disease	ESRD patients are frequent candidates for kidney transplantation and require HLA typing during evaluation.
`Z85.3`	Personal history of malignant neoplasm of kidney	Patients with prior nephrectomy for malignancy undergoing transplant evaluation may require HLA testing as part of pre-transplant workup.
`D47.Z9`	Myelodysplastic syndromes, unspecified	Hematologic patients considered for stem cell transplant require high-resolution HLA typing for donor selection.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`81379`	HLA class I high-resolution molecular typing of loci A, B, C	Primary procedure for high-resolution Class I HLA typing.
`81275`	HLA typing, class II; DRB1 and DRB3/4/5 (sequence-based typing)	Often performed alongside Class I typing to complete donor-recipient HLA profile.
`86840`	HLA tissue typing; complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch	Related pre-transplant compatibility testing; functional crossmatch complements molecular typing.
`86880`	Flow cytometry crossmatch	Performed before transplantation to detect donor-specific antibodies complementary to molecular HLA results.
`86355`	Immunoassay for antibody detection (e.g., Luminex single antigen)	Used to identify anti-HLA antibodies that inform interpretation of high-resolution typing.

CPT 81370: HLA Class I and II Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81371-HLA-A-B-DRB1-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81371: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DRB1 Low/Intermediate Resolution Typing

CPT-81372-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81372: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81373-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81373: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate Resolution Molecular Test

CPT-81374-HLA-CLASS-I-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81374: HLA Class I Low/Intermediate-Resolution Testing

CPT-81375-HLA-CLASS-II-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TYPING

CPT 81375: HLA Class II Low/Intermediate-Resolution Molecular Typing

CPT-81376-HLA-CLASS-II-TYPING-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION-TECHNICAL

CPT 81376: HLA Class II Typing, Low/Intermediate-Resolution Technical

CPT-81377-HLA-CLASS-II-ALLELE-GROUP-TYPING-LOW-INTERMEDIATE-RESOLUTION

CPT 81377: HLA Class II Allele Group Typing, Low/Intermediate Resolution

CPT-81378-HLA-HIGH-RESOLUTION-MOLECULAR-TYPING-CLASS-I-II-DRB1

CPT 81378: High-Resolution HLA Class I and II Molecular Typing

CPT-81380-HLA-HIGH-RESOLUTION-CLASS-I-TYPING

CPT 81380: High-Resolution HLA Class I Molecular Typing

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

Sign up for cpt 81379 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 81379: High-Resolution HLA Class I Typing

Sign up for cpt 81379 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 81379 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 81379 and when should they be applied?

What related CPT codes or tests are commonly associated with 81379?

In what clinical scenarios and workflow settings is 81379 used?

Which specialties or taxonomy codes are associated with performing or ordering 81379?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 81379 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 81379 and when should they be applied?

What related CPT codes or tests are commonly associated with 81379?

In what clinical scenarios and workflow settings is 81379 used?

Which specialties or taxonomy codes are associated with performing or ordering 81379?

References