Summary & Overview
CPT 82595: Cryoglobulin (Cryocrit) Measurement, Qualitative/Semi‑Quantitative
CPT code 82595 represents a laboratory procedure to detect and measure cryoglobulins (cryocrit) using qualitative or semi-quantitative analysis. Cryoglobulins are abnormal serum proteins that precipitate in cold temperatures and are clinically relevant for conditions such as cryoglobulinemia, certain autoimmune diseases, infectious disorders, and hematologic malignancies. Nationally, accurate reporting of this code supports clinical diagnosis, guides treatment decisions, and informs laboratory service utilization.
Key payers in the coverage landscape include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Coverage policies and prior authorization requirements for cryoglobulin testing vary by payer and by clinical indications.
Readers will find an overview of clinical context for cryoglobulin testing, typical sites of service where this laboratory work is performed, and payer coverage considerations. The publication also provides benchmarking information, common coding and billing patterns, and any recent policy updates affecting laboratory reporting. Where specific input data is not provided, the report notes that those data elements are not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82595 reports a laboratory measurement of cryoglobulin (commonly reported as cryocrit), an abnormal blood protein that precipitates or sediments when serum is cooled. The procedure uses qualitative or semi-quantitative analysis to determine the presence and approximate amount of cryoglobulins in a patient specimen. Cryocrit is defined as the cryoglobulin sediment after cold centrifugation of the serum.
Service Type: Laboratory test — qualitative/semi-quantitative cryoglobulin measurement
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory
Data not available in the input for payers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old patient with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus presents to the outpatient hematology clinic with complaints of recurrent purpura, arthralgia, and episodes of cold-induced acrocyanosis. The clinician suspects cryoglobulinemia and orders a cryoglobulin test. Blood is drawn with prewarmed collection technique and transported promptly to the laboratory at body temperature. In the lab, a technologist performs qualitative/semi-quantitative analysis to measure cryoglobulin levels (cryocrit) by cold centrifugation and assessment of the percent sediment. Results are reported to the ordering provider and used alongside serologic tests (complement levels, rheumatoid factor, viral serologies) and clinical findings to guide diagnosis and management.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the professional interpretation component of a test if split billing applies. |
52 | Reduced services | When the laboratory performs a reduced service relative to the full testing protocol. |