Summary & Overview
CPT 84252: Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Blood Assay
CPT code 84252 represents a laboratory test to measure riboflavin (vitamin B2) concentration, most often performed on a blood specimen. This code is used when clinicians need objective assessment of riboflavin status for diagnosis of deficiency, evaluation of metabolic disorders, or monitoring response to supplementation. Nationally, micronutrient testing like riboflavin measurement informs clinical decisions across primary care, nutrition services, and specialty metabolic clinics and can affect utilization patterns in outpatient and inpatient laboratory services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for ordering the test, common sites of service, and payer coverage landscape. The publication summarizes typical billing practice for CPT code 84252, available benchmarking information where provided, and relevant policy considerations that influence coverage and reimbursement for laboratory micronutrient assays.
This piece provides concise guidance on the clinical role of riboflavin testing, highlights payer presence in the national market, and points readers to where they can find more detailed operational and coding resources. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 84252 describes a laboratory assay performed by a lab analyst to measure riboflavin (vitamin B2), typically using a blood specimen. The result quantifies a patient’s riboflavin status for clinical assessment of nutritional deficiency, metabolic evaluation, or monitoring of supplementation therapy.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory testing (micronutrient assay)
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory with blood specimen collection
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old adult presents to an outpatient primary care clinic with symptoms of fatigue, cheilosis, and glossitis after a recent history of poor dietary intake and chronic alcohol use. The clinician orders a serum riboflavin (vitamin B2) assay to evaluate for riboflavin deficiency as part of a micronutrient workup. A phlebotomist collects a blood sample in the office or outpatient laboratory. The specimen is transported to the hospital or commercial clinical laboratory where a laboratory analyst performs the 84252 assay using appropriate analytic methods. Results are reported in the electronic medical record to the ordering provider, who integrates the value into nutritional assessment and management.
Typical site of service: outpatient clinic, physician office, outpatient laboratory, or hospital outpatient laboratory.
Typical patient scenario: evaluation of suspected riboflavin deficiency in patients with malnutrition, chronic alcohol use, malabsorption, or unexplained mucocutaneous symptoms; monitoring of nutritional status in chronic disease or after bariatric surgery.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing separately for the physician interpretation component if applicable. |
| Distinct procedural service | When this test is distinct and separate from another laboratory test on the same day that might be bundled.