Summary & Overview
CPT 83006: ST2 Assay, Technical Laboratory Test
CPT code 83006 represents a laboratory technical assay for growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2). ST2 measurement is a specialized biomarker test performed by laboratory personnel to quantify ST2 protein or gene expression in patient specimens. Nationally, such molecular and biomarker assays are important for diagnostic clarification, risk stratification, and care planning in conditions where ST2 testing is clinically relevant.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the service covered by CPT code 83006, payer coverage framing, and the clinical context in which ST2 testing is ordered. The publication summarizes typical sites of service and the technical nature of the billed service and outlines what readers can expect to learn about reimbursement benchmarks, coding guidance, and policy considerations related to laboratory reimbursement for specialized biomarker assays.
This executive summary provides a national perspective on CPT code 83006 and prepares readers to review payer-specific coverage policies, common billing modifiers, and coding practice notes elsewhere in the publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 83006 describes a laboratory technical test in which a lab analyst performs the assay to measure growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) in a patient specimen. The service focuses on the technical component of the laboratory analysis to detect and quantify ST2 levels.
Service Type: Laboratory test — technical component
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old patient with chronic heart failure presents to the outpatient cardiology clinic for risk stratification and monitoring. The treating cardiologist orders a blood test to measure soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) to help assess risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes and guide management decisions alongside natriuretic peptide results and clinical assessment. A phlebotomy technician collects a serum specimen during the clinic visit or at an outpatient laboratory. The specimen is transported to the clinical laboratory where a medical technologist or lab analyst performs the ST2 immunoassay per manufacturer instructions. The laboratory documents specimen accessioning, test performance, quality controls, and result verification; a pathologist or qualified laboratory director reviews and signs results when required. Results are routed to the ordering cardiologist for integration into the patient’s care plan during follow-up visits or via the electronic health record.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation or result review by a physician or qualified provider for the laboratory test when technical component is billed separately. |