Headline: CPT code 86152: Laboratory Immunologic Cell Quantification for Circulating Tumor Cells

Lead: CPT code 86152 represents an immunologic laboratory assay to quantify specific cell populations in body fluids — most commonly used to detect and measure circulating tumor cells in blood. This test supports oncology care, disease monitoring, and treatment response assessment and has growing clinical relevance as precision medicine expands.

CPT code 86152 is a laboratory procedure code for immunologic quantification of cells using specific markers. It matters nationally because such assays increasingly inform cancer staging, therapy selection, and monitoring, influencing clinical decision-making and utilization of high-cost therapies. Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical context, typical sites of service, and payer coverage scope. The publication outlines benchmarks and reimbursement context where available, summarizes relevant policy and billing considerations affecting laboratory services, and highlights clinical applications such as oncology monitoring. Data not provided in the input (for example, associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 pairings, and detailed payer policy nuances) are noted as unavailable and will be addressed where supplemental payer policy documents exist.