Summary & Overview
CPT 84402: Free Testosterone Assay in Serum
CPT code 84402 denotes a laboratory assay measuring free testosterone in patient serum. Free testosterone testing plays a role in diagnosing and managing endocrine and reproductive conditions by assessing the biologically active fraction of testosterone. As a routinely ordered endocrine laboratory test, it influences clinical decision-making for conditions such as hypogonadism and polycystic ovarian syndrome and is commonly processed through clinical laboratory services across outpatient settings.
This analysis covers major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose of the test, payer coverage considerations, common diagnostic contexts, and related laboratory codes used in the same service lines. The content highlights where 84402 fits within laboratory testing workflows and how it relates to common panels and separate testosterone assays.
The publication provides practical reference material for billing and coding teams, lab managers, and clinician offices, summarizing the code description, typical site of service, related laboratory procedures, and the primary clinical indications that commonly accompany the test order. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 84402 describes a laboratory assay in which a lab analyst measures free testosterone, typically performed on patient serum. This service is a clinical laboratory test used to quantify the unbound fraction of testosterone, providing information distinct from total testosterone measurements.
Service type: Clinical laboratory diagnostic testing
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or outpatient phlebotomy collection site
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult male presenting to primary care or endocrinology with symptoms of hypogonadism such as decreased libido, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, and erectile dysfunction, or a female with suspected hyperandrogenism (e.g., irregular menses and hirsutism) being evaluated for polycystic ovarian syndrome. The clinician orders laboratory evaluation including measurement of free testosterone to assess bioavailable androgen levels when total testosterone results are discordant with the clinical picture or when sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) abnormalities are suspected. Serum is collected by phlebotomy at an outpatient clinic, hospital inpatient ward, or an ambulatory laboratory. The specimen is sent to a clinical medical laboratory where the lab analyst performs 84402 (free testosterone) using an appropriate immunoassay or mass spectrometry method. Results are returned to the ordering provider and interpreted in the context of symptoms, total testosterone (84403) when available, and other endocrine studies such as metabolic panels (80050 or 80053) or prostate specific antigen (84153) as clinically indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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