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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesHematology and Coagulation ProceduresCPT cpt-85008-blood-smear-morphologic-review-no-differential
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    CPT 85008: Microscopic Blood Smear Examination, No Differential

    CPT code 85008 describes a laboratory service in which a lab analyst examines a patient’s blood smear on a microscope slide without performing a differential white blood cell count; this is a microscopic blood smear examination typically processed as a clinical laboratory procedure and performed in hospital or reference laboratory settings or outpatient laboratory facilities where manual slide review is indicated.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hematology - Adzynma, Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancer, Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverage.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient scenario involves an adult or pediatric patient presenting to an outpatient clinic, urgent care, emergency department, or hospital laboratory where a clinician orders a basic peripheral blood smear review. The clinician suspects an abnormality suggested by automated CBC flags (for example, flagged red cell morphology, platelet clumping, or presence of atypical cells) or needs a rapid microscopic review to corroborate machine results. A phlebotomy technician draws blood into an EDTA tube, the specimen is prepared on a microscope slide by laboratory staff, and a medical technologist or laboratory analyst performs a visual examination under the microscope without performing a formal differential white blood cell count. Results reported qualitatively include presence or absence of schistocytes, spherocytes, red cell agglutination, platelet clumping, parasites, or gross abnormalities of WBC morphology. Findings are communicated to the ordering provider for clinical correlation and potential follow-up testing (for example, formal differential 85025, thick/thin malaria smears, or peripheral smear review by a hematopathologist). Typical sites of service include outpatient laboratory, hospital inpatient laboratory, emergency department, and clinic-based draw centers. Common patient indications include anemia evaluation, thrombocytopenia with platelet clumping on automated count, hemolytic markers abnormality, suspected microangiopathic hemolysis, infectious concerns (parasitemia), or quality check of automated hematology instrumentation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    85025Automated white blood cell (WBC) differential count, including automated platelet count when performedPerformed when a formal differential count is required after a smear review suggests abnormal WBC distribution; may follow or be ordered concurrently.
    85027Automated reticulocyte countUsed when smear review suggests hemolysis or altered erythropoiesis prompting reticulocyte quantification.
    85379Peripheral blood smear, review by a physician or other qualified health care professionalPerformed when a more detailed microscopic review and formal interpretation by a pathologist or hematologist is required beyond the lab analyst's basic exam.
    86580Skin test interpretation (not directly related)Data not available in the input.
    87803Infectious agent detection by microscopy (e.g., parasite)Used when smear review detects parasites and additional organism-specific microscopy or confirmatory testing is required.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2080P0204X
    207ZN0500X
    2083S0010X
    207SG0203X
    2472R0900X
    111N00000X
    103TP0016X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hematology - AdzynmaCigna2026-10-15
    Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancerselect_health2026-10-01
    Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) CoverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Epithelial Cell Cytology in Breast Cancer Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Factor VIII ProductsCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-85002-BLEEDING-TIME-TEST-LABORATORY

    CPT 85002: Bleeding Time Test, Technical Component

    CPT-85004-AUTOMATED-DIFFERENTIAL-WHITE-BLOOD-CELL-COUNT

    CPT 85004: Automated White Blood Cell Differential

    CPT-85007-MANUAL-DIFFERENTIAL-WHITE-BLOOD-CELL-COUNT

    CPT 85007: Manual Differential White Blood Cell Count

    CPT-85009-MANUAL-WBC-COUNT-BUFFY-COAT

    CPT 85009: Manual White Blood Cell Count Using Buffy Coat

    CPT-85013-MICROHEMATOCRIT-TEST-LABORATORY-DIAGNOSTIC

    CPT 85013: Microhematocrit Test by Tube Centrifugation

    CPT-85014-HEMATOCRIT-VOLUME-PERCENT-RED-BLOOD-CELLS

    CPT 85014: Hematocrit (Volume Percent of Red Blood Cells)

    CPT-85018-HEMOGLOBIN-ASSAY-WHOLE-BLOOD

    CPT 85018: Hemoglobin Measurement in Whole Blood

    CPT-85025-COMPLETE-BLOOD-COUNT-CBC

    CPT 85025: Complete Blood Count (CBC)

    CPT-85027-COMPLETE-BLOOD-COUNT-HGB-HCT

    CPT 85027: Complete Blood Count with Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

    CPT-85032-MANUAL-DIFFERENTIAL-BLOOD-SMEAR-COUNT

    CPT 85032: Manual Differential/Visual Cell Count

    Showing 1–10 of 99

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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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