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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFluid washings, Hybridization and Sex Chromatin Identification ProceduresCPT cpt-88112-liquid-based-cytopathology-selective-cellular-enhancement
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    CPT 88112: Selective Cellular Enhancement for Cytopathology

    Medicare pays $45 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88112 describes selective cellular enhancement for cytopathology, a laboratory slide preparation technique such as liquid-based cytology that uses a liquid medium to collect and preserve cells; service type: cytopathology specimen preparation and processing; typical site of service: pathology or clinical laboratory (including hospital lab or standalone reference laboratory).

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 35–55-year-old woman presenting to an outpatient gynecology clinic for routine cervical cancer screening or evaluation of abnormal vaginal bleeding. A speculum exam and cervical sample collection are performed; samples are placed into a liquid-based cytology medium for processing. The laboratory performs 88112 (selective cellular enhancement for cytopathology, liquid-based slide preparation) to improve specimen adequacy and concentrate diagnostic cellular material for cytologic interpretation. Specimens may originate from primary care clinics, gynecology offices, community health centers, or hospital outpatient departments. The workflow: collection by the clinician, transport in liquid medium to the cytology laboratory, laboratory processing with selective cellular enhancement to produce optimized slides or preparations, cytotechnologist screening, pathologist review if indicated, and final report sent to the ordering clinician.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), screening cell search, automated, with manual review, per specimenOften performed as the initial automated screening step before selective cellular enhancement and final cytotechnologist review.
    88142Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal, rescreening after automated screening, per specimenMay be performed after initial screening and selective cellular enhancement if rescreening is required for quality control or abnormal results.
    88174Cytopathology; collection and/or interpretation of Pap smear performed by a physician (this code historically used for special circumstances)May be used in workflows where the physician documents collection and interpretation responsibilities in addition to laboratory processing.
    88305Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, intermediate complexityUsed when cytology findings prompt a tissue biopsy that requires histopathologic examination following cytologic processing and interpretation.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimens for transfer from physician to laboratory (historical/limited use)Relates to logistical handling of specimens from the collecting site to the processing laboratory; usage varies by payer and facility policy.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    207L00000X
    207R00000X
    163WI0600X
    163W00000X
    332BC3200X
    163WI0500X
    207RB0002X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-88104-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-PREP-AND-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 88104: Cytopathology Smear Preparation and Interpretation

    CPT-88106-NON-GYNECOLOGIC-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-SIMPLE-FILTER

    CPT 88106: Cytopathology Smear of Non-Cervical Fluids

    CPT-88108-CYTOPATHOLOGY-FLUID-SMEAR-CONCENTRATION-TECHNIQUE

    CPT 88108: Cytopathology Concentration Smear Preparation and Interpretation

    CPT-88120-URINARY-TRACT-IN-SITU-HYBRIDIZATION-MORPHOMETRIC-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88120: In Situ Hybridization on Urinary Tract Specimen, 3–5 Probes

    CPT-88121-URINARY-TRACT-IN-SITU-HYBRIDIZATION-MORPHOMETRY

    CPT 88121: Urine In Situ Hybridization with 3–5 Probes

    CPT-88125-FORENSIC-CYTOPATHOLOGY-TECHNICAL-SERVICE

    CPT 88125: Cytopathology Specimen Analysis for Forensic Testing

    CPT-88130-SEX-CHROMATIN-BARR-BODY-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88130: Sex Chromatin (Barr Body) Analysis

    CPT-88140-PERIPHERAL-BLOOD-SMEAR-SEX-CHROMATIN-IDENTIFICATION

    CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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