Summary & Overview
CPT 82728: Serum Ferritin Quantitative Assay
CPT code 82728 represents a quantitative laboratory assay for serum ferritin, the primary intracellular iron-storage protein that reflects total body iron stores. Nationally, ferritin testing is a common diagnostic tool used to identify iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease, and iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis; it informs treatment decisions across primary care, hematology, and hospital medicine.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context about when ferritin measurement is indicated, typical sites of service where the test is performed, and the role of the assay in diagnostic pathways. The publication also summarizes typical billing considerations and common modifiers used with laboratory services where available.
This resource provides operational benchmarks and policy-relevant details useful to laboratory managers, billing teams, and clinicians who order or process ferritin testing. It highlights the clinical importance of the assay for iron-status evaluation and outlines what to expect in payer coverage patterns and claims processing at a national level. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82728 measures the level of ferritin in serum, a protein that stores iron and serves as a key marker of the body's iron reserves. The test quantifies circulating ferritin concentrations to help assess iron deficiency, iron overload, and related disorders.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory test — quantitative immunoassay or equivalent measurement of serum ferritin
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Typical site of service: Hospital laboratory, independent clinical laboratory, or outpatient phlebotomy/ambulatory collection site
Data not available in the input for payers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old female presents to an outpatient hematology clinic with fatigue, pallor, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The clinician orders laboratory evaluation for iron status, including measurement of serum ferritin to assess iron stores and differentiate iron-deficiency anemia from anemia of chronic disease. A phlebotomy is performed in the clinic's outpatient lab or hospital outpatient draw station; the specimen is sent to the clinical laboratory where a technologist runs an immunoassay to quantify ferritin concentration. The result is reported to the ordering provider and used to guide further management such as iron supplementation, additional iron studies, or investigation for chronic inflammatory conditions. Typical workflow locations include outpatient clinic labs, hospital outpatient phlebotomy centers, and independent clinical laboratories. Commonly, the specimen type is serum, obtained by venipuncture, and the test is billed as 82728 for ferritin measurement.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation component, if applicable for laboratory oversight in some arrangements. |
59 |