Summary & Overview
CPT 86910: Blood Typing for Paternity (ABO, Rh, MN)
CPT code 86910 covers laboratory blood typing across multiple antigen systems (ABO, Rh, MN) performed to assess the likelihood of paternity. This test is a specialized serologic procedure used in medicolegal and clinical contexts where establishing biological parentage is required. Nationally, accurate coding for paternity blood typing supports correct claim adjudication, appropriate lab reimbursement, and clear clinical documentation for legal and clinical stakeholders.
Key payers in typical commercial and public coverage reviews include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical purpose of CPT code 86910, typical sites of service, and the common modifiers associated with billing this laboratory service. The publication also provides benchmark considerations for claim processing and coding practice, context on how the test is used in paternity determination, and pointers on documentation elements that support medical necessity.
This summary is intended for national audiences including coding professionals, laboratory managers, and payer contracting staff who need a clear, practical reference for CPT code 86910. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 86910 describes laboratory testing performed to type blood under multiple antigen systems — specifically ABO, Rh, and MN — for the purpose of establishing the likelihood of paternity. This service involves a laboratory analyst conducting serologic testing to determine blood group antigens across the named systems.
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Service type: Laboratory blood typing for paternity testing
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical scenario involves a hospital or independent laboratory performing blood group antigen typing for paternity testing. A case example: a 28-year-old mother and her newborn present documentation requests for legal paternity determination. The laboratory receives labeled whole blood specimens from the mother, child, and alleged father. The lab analyst performs serologic and/or molecular typing across multiple antigen systems including ABO, Rh (including D variant interpretation), and MN to establish inheritance patterns that support or exclude paternity. Results are documented in the laboratory information system, a report is prepared for the requesting party (often counsel or a court), and specimens may be retained per chain-of-custody and institutional policy. Typical workflow steps include specimen verification, antigen typing (serology or DNA-based), interpretation comparing parental and child antigen patterns, quality control, and issuance of a formal report. Typical site of service is a clinical reference laboratory or hospital laboratory with blood bank/immunohematology capabilities. Typical service type is laboratory diagnostic testing for legal/forensic paternity determination.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Standard use when no modifier applies |
22 |