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

CPT code 85014 represents a laboratory measurement of hematocrit—the volume percent of red blood cells in a whole blood specimen. Hematocrit is a routine diagnostic parameter used in assessing anemia, polycythemia, hydration status, and other hematologic conditions. Nationally, this code underpins frequent laboratory workstreams across outpatient clinics, hospital labs, and reference laboratories and therefore factors into volume-driven lab payment considerations and testing workflows.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the test, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations. The publication summarizes available national benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where provided, highlights relevant coding considerations for laboratory service lines, and outlines implications for billing operations and claims processing.

The content is intended for a national audience of billing managers, laboratory directors, and policy analysts who need a clear reference on the clinical purpose of 85014, payer coverage scope, and the operational context for administering and billing this routine hematology test.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 85014 describes a laboratory procedure in which a lab analyst measures the volume percent of red blood cells (hematocrit) in a whole blood specimen. The test quantifies the proportion of blood composed of erythrocytes and is a fundamental component of complete blood count evaluation.

Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (specimen collected in outpatient or inpatient settings)

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

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 85014 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (specimen collected in outpatient or inpatient settings)

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient scenario involves an adult or pediatric patient presenting to an ambulatory clinic, hospital inpatient unit, emergency department, or phlebotomy laboratory where a basic complete blood count component is required. A clinician orders a hematocrit to evaluate red blood cell mass for causes such as anemia, polycythemia, hemodilution, dehydration, or monitoring blood loss and fluid status. A phlebotomist collects a whole blood specimen in an appropriate tube (often EDTA) and sends it to the clinical laboratory. A medical laboratory technician or technologist performs the hematocrit determination by automated analyzer or manual centrifugation and records the volume percent of red blood cells. Results are reported in the electronic medical record and interpreted by the ordering clinician to guide fluid management, transfusion decisions, or further diagnostic testing such as hemoglobin, red cell indices, and reticulocyte count.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional component of a laboratory service if applicable (rare for hematocrit which is typically a full lab service).
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when hematocrit is a distinct and separate lab procedure performed alongside other tests that might be bundled.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the specimen is sent to an outside independent laboratory for testing.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use when the hematocrit is repeated on the same day for clinical reasons and the repeat is reported.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended.
`77`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same provider repeats the hematocrit procedure (uncommon for routine lab tests).
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR/procedure following initial procedure	Not typical but available when an unplanned procedural return necessitates repeat labs.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Duplicate entry avoided — only list once.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Duplicate entry avoided — only list once.
`99`	Multiple modifiers — informational	Use when multiple informational or payer-specific modifiers are submitted together.
`TC`	Technical component	Use if reporting only the technical component of laboratory testing from the performing laboratory.
`QW`	CLIA waived test	Use when the hematocrit method performed is CLIA-waived at point-of-care (if the site and method qualify).
`XE`	Separate encounter	Use when the hematocrit was performed during a separate encounter from other services.
`XP`	Separate practitioner	Use when a different practitioner performs the hematocrit than the one performing other services.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2085R0001X	Clinical Laboratory Technologist/Technician	Primary personnel who perform and report hematocrit testing.
207K00000X	Emergency Medicine	Ordering and interpreting hematocrits in emergency settings.
207Q00000X	Family Medicine	Common ordering provider in ambulatory settings for anemia and routine exams.
207L00000X	Internal Medicine	Common ordering provider for inpatient and outpatient medical management.
261QM0800X	Hematology	Specialty involvement when abnormal hematocrit warrants hematologic evaluation.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D50.9`	Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified	Common cause of low hematocrit; hematocrit quantifies anemia severity.
`D64.9`	Anemia, unspecified	Hematocrit is a primary laboratory value used to diagnose and monitor anemia.
`D75.1`	Polycythemia vera	Conditions with elevated red cell mass produce high hematocrit values; used for monitoring.
`R57.0`	Cardiogenic shock	Hematocrit helps assess blood loss, hemoconcentration, or hemodilution in critical care.
`O90.4`	Anemia complicating the puerperium	Postpartum anemia evaluation includes hematocrit measurement.
`Z51.81`	Encounter for therapeutic apheresis	Hematocrit monitoring is used when apheresis procedures may alter red cell mass.
`Z51.0`	Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy and immunotherapy	Hematocrit monitoring is routine during chemotherapy to detect treatment-related anemia.
`T81.11XA`	Hemorrhage and hematoma complicating a procedure, initial encounter	Hematocrit is used to detect and follow bleeding complications post-procedure.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`85014`	Hematocrit — determination of volume percent of red blood cells in whole blood specimen	This is the primary procedure describing the measured hematocrit value reported by the laboratory.
`85018`	Hemoglobin; by automated device	Hemoglobin is commonly ordered and reported alongside hematocrit as part of anemia evaluation and CBC components.
`85025`	Blood count; complete (CBC), automated (Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC and platelet count)	A CBC is frequently performed in place of or together with an isolated hematocrit; `85014` may be part of or replaced by `85025` depending on laboratory processing.
`84443`	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	Often ordered in broader workups for fatigue or symptoms that may accompany abnormal hematocrit, though not directly linked; included here as a frequently co-ordered outpatient test.
`85027`	Blood count; automated differential WBC count	When a broader hematologic assessment is required, differential and CBC-related testing accompany hematocrit measurement.

Related Codes

CPT-85002-BLEEDING-TIME-TEST-LABORATORY

CPT 85002: Bleeding Time Test, Laboratory

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

CPT 85004: Automated Differential White Blood Cell Count

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

CPT 85007: Manual Differential White Blood Cell Count

CPT-85008-BLOOD-SMEAR-MORPHOLOGIC-REVIEW-NO-DIFFERENTIAL

CPT 85008: Blood Smear Morphologic Review Without Differential

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, Laboratory Diagnostic

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 White Blood Cell Count

Showing 1–10 of 99

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional component of a laboratory service if applicable (rare for hematocrit which is typically a full lab service).
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when hematocrit is a distinct and separate lab procedure performed alongside other tests that might be bundled.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the specimen is sent to an outside independent laboratory for testing.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use when the hematocrit is repeated on the same day for clinical reasons and the repeat is reported.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended.
`77`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same provider repeats the hematocrit procedure (uncommon for routine lab tests).
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR/procedure following initial procedure	Not typical but available when an unplanned procedural return necessitates repeat labs.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Duplicate entry avoided — only list once.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Duplicate entry avoided — only list once.
`99`	Multiple modifiers — informational	Use when multiple informational or payer-specific modifiers are submitted together.
`TC`	Technical component	Use if reporting only the technical component of laboratory testing from the performing laboratory.
`QW`	CLIA waived test	Use when the hematocrit method performed is CLIA-waived at point-of-care (if the site and method qualify).
`XE`	Separate encounter	Use when the hematocrit was performed during a separate encounter from other services.
`XP`	Separate practitioner	Use when a different practitioner performs the hematocrit than the one performing other services.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2085R0001X	Clinical Laboratory Technologist/Technician	Primary personnel who perform and report hematocrit testing.
207K00000X	Emergency Medicine	Ordering and interpreting hematocrits in emergency settings.
207Q00000X	Family Medicine	Common ordering provider in ambulatory settings for anemia and routine exams.
207L00000X	Internal Medicine	Common ordering provider for inpatient and outpatient medical management.
261QM0800X	Hematology	Specialty involvement when abnormal hematocrit warrants hematologic evaluation.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D50.9`	Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified	Common cause of low hematocrit; hematocrit quantifies anemia severity.
`D64.9`	Anemia, unspecified	Hematocrit is a primary laboratory value used to diagnose and monitor anemia.
`D75.1`	Polycythemia vera	Conditions with elevated red cell mass produce high hematocrit values; used for monitoring.
`R57.0`	Cardiogenic shock	Hematocrit helps assess blood loss, hemoconcentration, or hemodilution in critical care.
`O90.4`	Anemia complicating the puerperium	Postpartum anemia evaluation includes hematocrit measurement.
`Z51.81`	Encounter for therapeutic apheresis	Hematocrit monitoring is used when apheresis procedures may alter red cell mass.
`Z51.0`	Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy and immunotherapy	Hematocrit monitoring is routine during chemotherapy to detect treatment-related anemia.
`T81.11XA`	Hemorrhage and hematoma complicating a procedure, initial encounter	Hematocrit is used to detect and follow bleeding complications post-procedure.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`85014`	Hematocrit — determination of volume percent of red blood cells in whole blood specimen	This is the primary procedure describing the measured hematocrit value reported by the laboratory.
`85018`	Hemoglobin; by automated device	Hemoglobin is commonly ordered and reported alongside hematocrit as part of anemia evaluation and CBC components.
`85025`	Blood count; complete (CBC), automated (Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC and platelet count)	A CBC is frequently performed in place of or together with an isolated hematocrit; `85014` may be part of or replaced by `85025` depending on laboratory processing.
`84443`	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	Often ordered in broader workups for fatigue or symptoms that may accompany abnormal hematocrit, though not directly linked; included here as a frequently co-ordered outpatient test.
`85027`	Blood count; automated differential WBC count	When a broader hematologic assessment is required, differential and CBC-related testing accompany hematocrit measurement.

Related Codes

CPT-85002-BLEEDING-TIME-TEST-LABORATORY

CPT 85002: Bleeding Time Test, Laboratory

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

CPT 85004: Automated Differential White Blood Cell Count

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

CPT 85007: Manual Differential White Blood Cell Count

CPT-85008-BLOOD-SMEAR-MORPHOLOGIC-REVIEW-NO-DIFFERENTIAL

CPT 85008: Blood Smear Morphologic Review Without Differential

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, Laboratory Diagnostic

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 White Blood Cell Count

Showing 1–10 of 99

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

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

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Billing Code Overview

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

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References