Summary & Overview

CPT 86140: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Assay, Serum Technical Component

CPT code 86140 represents the technical laboratory test for detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum. As a common inflammatory marker, CRP testing is widely used in clinical diagnostics, acute care, and outpatient management to assess inflammation, infection, or treatment response. Nationally, this code matters because CRP testing is frequently ordered across care settings and contributes to laboratory service volumes, reimbursement patterns, and utilization oversight.

Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for CRP testing, payer coverage considerations, and the types of benchmarks commonly reported for laboratory CPT codes — including utilization rates, allowed amounts, and site-of-service patterns. The publication also summarizes relevant policy updates and coding guidance where available, and explains what measures are used to compare performance and cost for this laboratory service.

This summary is designed to orient clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts to the purpose of CPT code 86140, the settings where the technical component is delivered, and the categories of information that follow in the full report.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare86140CPTclinical laboratoryC-reactive proteinserum testlaboratory billingtechnical componentinflammatory marker

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 86140 describes a laboratory technical procedure in which a lab analyst performs testing on a specimen, typically serum, to detect the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP). This code represents the technical component of the CRP assay and covers the hands-on laboratory work, instrumentation, and processing required to produce test results.

Service type: Clinical laboratory test (technical component)
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory processing serum specimens

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 58-year-old patient presents to an outpatient primary care clinic with fever, generalized malaise, and concern for possible bacterial infection or systemic inflammation. The clinician orders a C-reactive protein (CRP) test to quantify systemic inflammatory response and help differentiate bacterial from viral infection and to monitor response to therapy. A phlebotomy technician draws a serum specimen, which is sent to the hospital or reference laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs the technical assay to measure CRP concentration using immunoassay methods, documents assay controls and results, and reports a numeric value to the ordering clinician. Typical workflow includes specimen accessioning, centrifugation to obtain serum, running the CRP assay on an automated analyzer, verifying quality control, and transmitting results to the electronic health record. Results inform clinical decision-making such as need for antibiotics, further diagnostic testing, or monitoring of inflammatory conditions in follow-up visits.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting the professional interpretation component separate from the technical service (rare for automated lab tests).
`TC`	Technical component	Use to indicate the technical portion of the test when professional component is billed separately.
`90`	Reference (outside) laboratory	Use when the specimen is sent to an independent external laboratory that performs the test.
`91`	Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test	Use when the test is repeated on the same day for monitoring or verification.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when bundling edits require clarification that this lab test is separate from another service on the same day.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the test is partially completed or performed with reduced methodology.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if specimen collection or testing was started but discontinued for documented reasons.
`90`	Technical component (alternate use)	Use to indicate that only the technical component is billed by the performing lab (synonymous with `TC` in some payor systems).
`95`	Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video	Rarely applicable; use only if the lab result interpretation is provided during a real-time telemedicine visit and modifier is required by payer.
`QW`	CLIA waived test	Use when the CRP method performed is CLIA-waived and payer requires the modifier to denote waived testing.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
261QM0800X	Clinical Laboratory	Laboratory directors and medical technologists performing or overseeing CRP testing.
207RC0000X	Internal Medicine	Ordering clinicians in outpatient or inpatient settings who request CRP for diagnosis and monitoring.
208D00000X	Emergency Medicine	Clinicians in the ED who order CRP to evaluate acute infection or severe inflammation.
207K00000X	Family Medicine	Primary care providers who order CRP for outpatient evaluation and follow-up.
207V00000X	General Practice	Providers in general practice settings who order routine inflammatory marker testing.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`R50.9`	Fever, unspecified	Fever is a common indication to order CRP to evaluate for infectious or inflammatory causes.
`J15.9`	Pneumonia, bacterial, unspecified	CRP is used to support diagnosis and monitor response to antibiotics in bacterial pneumonia.
`A41.9`	Sepsis, unspecified organism	CRP assists in assessing systemic inflammatory response and treatment monitoring in sepsis.
`M06.9`	Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified	CRP is a marker of inflammatory disease activity and used in monitoring autoimmune arthritis.
`K35.2`	Acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis	CRP can support the diagnosis of acute surgical infections and guide urgency of intervention.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36415`	Collection of venous blood by venipuncture	Performed immediately prior to `86140` to obtain the serum specimen for CRP testing.
`80053`	Comprehensive metabolic panel	Frequently ordered alongside CRP to assess organ function and support differential diagnosis.
`85610`	Prothrombin time	May be ordered in parallel when systemic inflammation or infection affects coagulation.
`86308`	Antibody; qualitative or semi-quantitative (e.g., CRP-related immunoassays context)	Related immunoassay methods sometimes performed in the same lab and workflow as CRP testing.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen (when applicable by payer)	Used in billing contexts where specimen transport or handling outside standard collection is billable along with the test.