CPT 86902: Antigen Screen of Donor Blood Unit
Commercial payers pay $19 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 86902 describes an antigen screening test performed by a laboratory analyst to evaluate a potential donor blood unit by mixing part of the unit with reagent serum from the recipient to detect possible reactive antigens; the service is a serologic blood bank screening procedure typically provided in a clinical laboratory or hospital blood bank setting for pre-transfusion compatibility assessment.
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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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial reimbursement for CPT 86902 centers around a BUCA average of $19.20, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the highest variability and occasional high outliers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s interquartile dispersion (P75–P25) is $13.0, markedly wider than UnitedHealth Group’s $3.6 and Aetna’s $1.2, indicating BCBS contracts vary more across regions or networks while Aetna and UnitedHealth Group are comparatively tighter. Cigna’s dispersion is $4.3, placing it between the tightest and widest payers.
Payer medians and means cluster differently: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s median of $28.30 sits well above the BUCA average, while Aetna and UnitedHealth Group medians ($5.00 and $3.80) are below it. Cigna’s median of $5.00 aligns with lower commercial rates but its higher max of $19.50 suggests occasional premium reimbursements. These patterns highlight where commercial reimbursements concentrate and where contract variability is greatest.