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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesChemistry ProceduresCPT cpt-82608-vitamin-b12-unsaturated-binding-capacity
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    CPT 82608: Vitamin B12 Unsaturated Binding Capacity Test

    CPT code 82608 reports a laboratory measurement of vitamin B12 unsaturated binding capacity (typically performed on a patient blood specimen) used to assess vitamin B12 binding status; this is a clinical laboratory test generally billed for specimen-based laboratory services and commonly performed in a clinical laboratory or hospital lab setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Salivary Hormone Testing, Bone Turnover Markers Testing, Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium Testing.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient presents to an outpatient primary care clinic with progressive fatigue, pallor, and intermittent paresthesias. The clinician obtains a comprehensive metabolic panel and complete blood count showing macrocytic anemia with low hemoglobin and elevated mean corpuscular volume. To evaluate for vitamin B12 deficiency and assess binding capacity, the provider orders a laboratory measurement of vitamin B12 unsaturated binding capacity (82608). A phlebotomy technician collects a blood specimen in the laboratory department; the specimen is processed in a clinical chemistry lab where the analyst performs the unsaturated B12 binding capacity assay. Results are reported in the electronic medical record to the ordering provider who integrates the value with serum B12, methylmalonic acid, and clinical findings to determine deficiency and guide treatment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    82607Vitamin B12; radioactive assayAlternate method to measure vitamin B12 levels; may be ordered alongside unsaturated binding capacity to evaluate B12 status
    82728Folate; serumOften ordered concurrently when evaluating macrocytic anemia to distinguish folate versus B12 deficiency
    83090Hemoglobin; glycosylated (A1c)May be part of broader metabolic and anemia workup in patients with diabetes-related anemia concerns
    85025Blood count; complete (CBC) automated and automated differential WBC countA CBC is typically performed before or with 82608 to document anemia and red cell indices
    83970Assay of methylmalonic acid (MMA)Used to confirm functional B12 deficiency when B12 results or binding capacity are inconclusive

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207Q00000XFamily Medicine PhysicianFamily Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    1835E0208XEmergency Medicine PharmacistA licensed pharmacist who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in the care for patients at the bedside in emergency medicine settings.
    176B00000XMidwifeA Midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy birth, offering expert individualized c…
    310500000XMental Illness Intermediate Care FacilityA nursing facility that provides an intermediate level of nursing care to individuals whose functional abilities are significantly compromise by menta…
    2084P0015XPsychosomatic Medicine PhysicianPsychosomatic Medicine is subspecialty in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders and symptoms in complex medically ill patients. This su…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    D51.0Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia due to intrinsic factor deficiency
    D51.1Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia due to selective vitamin B12 malabsorption with proteinuria
    D51.2Transcobalamin II deficiency
    D51.3Other dietary vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
    D51.8Other vitamin B12 deficiency anemias
    D51.9Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, unspecified
    E10.9Type 1 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E53.8Deficiency of other specified B group vitamins
    E53.9Vitamin B deficiency, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testosterone — Coverage Criteria for Measurement and MonitoringOscar Health2026-10-01
    Thyroid Disease TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-82009-KETONE-BODIES-QUALITATIVE-TEST

    CPT 82009: Qualitative Ketone Bodies Test

    CPT-82010-QUANTITATIVE-KETONE-BODIES-ASSAY-SERUM-PLASMA

    CPT 82010: Quantitative Ketone Bodies in Serum or Plasma

    CPT-82013-ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE-QUANTITATIVE-ASSAY

    CPT 82013: Quantitative Acetylcholinesterase (Acetylhydrolase) Assay

    CPT-82016-QUALITATIVE-ACYLCARNITINES-METABOLIC-SCREEN

    CPT 82016: Qualitative Acylcarnitines, Plasma/Serum/Urine

    CPT-82017-QUANTITATIVE-ACYLCARNITINE-ANALYSIS

    CPT 82017: Quantitative Acylcarnitine Analysis

    CPT-82024-QUANTITATIVE-CORTICOTROPIN-ACTH-ASSAY

    CPT 82024: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) Quantitative Assay

    CPT-82030-QUANTITATIVE-CAMP-PLASMA-URINE-ASSAY

    CPT 82030: Quantitative cyclic AMP assay on plasma or urine

    CPT-82040-QUANTITATIVE-ALBUMIN-MEASUREMENT

    CPT 82040: Quantitative Albumin Measurement

    CPT-82042-QUANTITATIVE-ALBUMIN-NONBLOOD-FLUID

    CPT 82042: Albumin Quantitation in Non-Blood Body Fluid

    CPT-82043-URINE-ALBUMIN-QUANTITATION-KIDNEY-DISEASE

    CPT 82043: Urine Albumin Quantitative Assay

    Showing 1–10 of 411

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    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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