CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

CPT code 88140 describes a laboratory technical service analyzing a peripheral blood smear to identify polymorphonuclear drumsticks (sex chromatin) within neutrophils for sex chromatin identification; service type: microscopic cytologic analysis/hematopathology test; typical site of service: clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory where a trained lab analyst performs the smear preparation and microscopic evaluation.

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CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 88140 are released or updated.

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Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 28-year-old individual assigned female at birth presents to an outpatient hematology laboratory after a primary care provider orders sex chromatin testing to help clarify unexpected karyotype findings from prior prenatal screening or to evaluate disorders of sexual development. The patient has a recent complete blood count with differential and a peripheral blood smear obtained by venipuncture. The laboratory technologist prepares and stains the peripheral smear (e.g., Wright-Giemsa) and the lab analyst performs a microscopic evaluation to identify polymorphonuclear "drumstick" nuclear appendages (Barr bodies) for sex chromatin identification. Results are reported to the ordering clinician and incorporated into the patient’s chart. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory under physician or clinical laboratory director oversight. Specimen handling, staining, microscopic examination, interpretation, and reporting follow institutional laboratory protocols and CLIA regulations.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`81001`	Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, etc., non-automated, with microscopy	Often performed in parallel during workup of systemic disorders affecting blood cells or sex chromosome anomalies when broader metabolic or renal screening is indicated.
`85025`	Blood count; complete (CBC) automated and automated differential WBC count	Frequently ordered before or with a peripheral smear to assess white cell morphology and counts that prompt smear review.
`85060`	Blood smear interpretation by a physician with written report	Performed when a physician issues a formal interpretive report after microscopic review, often billed in conjunction with the technical smear work.
`88232`	Analysis of tissue by cytogenetic technique, biopsy culture, etc.	Performed in cases requiring cytogenetic studies beyond smear sex chromatin identification, such as karyotyping or FISH.
`88271`	Microarray analysis, genomic copy number and single nucleotide polymorphism genome-wide; patient-level raw and interpreted data	Used when more detailed chromosomal analysis is required following abnormal sex chromatin findings.

Related Modifiers

5 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 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…
90	Modifier ‑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…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
207R00000X	Internal Medicine Physician	A physician who provides long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults…
2080P0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics) Physician	A pediatrician who has special qualifications to manage emergencies in infants and children.
222Z00000X	Orthotist	A health care professional who is specifically educated and trained to manage comprehensive orthotic patient care, including musculoskeletal and neuro…
207UN0903X	In Vivo & In Vitro Nuclear Medicine Physician	A nuclear medicine physician who specializes in in vivo and in vitro nuclear medicine.
213ES0103X	Foot & Ankle Surgery Podiatrist	Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Service Providers · Podiatrist
363LA2200X	Adult Health Nurse Practitioner	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Nurse Practitioner
103T00000X	Psychologist	A psychologist is an individual who is licensed to practice psychology which is defined as the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, a…

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-88112-LIQUID-BASED-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SELECTIVE-CELLULAR-ENHANCEMENT

CPT 88112: Selective Cellular Enhancement for Cytopathology

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

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`81001`	Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, etc., non-automated, with microscopy	Often performed in parallel during workup of systemic disorders affecting blood cells or sex chromosome anomalies when broader metabolic or renal screening is indicated.
`85025`	Blood count; complete (CBC) automated and automated differential WBC count	Frequently ordered before or with a peripheral smear to assess white cell morphology and counts that prompt smear review.
`85060`	Blood smear interpretation by a physician with written report	Performed when a physician issues a formal interpretive report after microscopic review, often billed in conjunction with the technical smear work.
`88232`	Analysis of tissue by cytogenetic technique, biopsy culture, etc.	Performed in cases requiring cytogenetic studies beyond smear sex chromatin identification, such as karyotyping or FISH.
`88271`	Microarray analysis, genomic copy number and single nucleotide polymorphism genome-wide; patient-level raw and interpreted data	Used when more detailed chromosomal analysis is required following abnormal sex chromatin findings.

Related Modifiers

5 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 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…
90	Modifier ‑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…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
207R00000X	Internal Medicine Physician	A physician who provides long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults…
2080P0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics) Physician	A pediatrician who has special qualifications to manage emergencies in infants and children.
222Z00000X	Orthotist	A health care professional who is specifically educated and trained to manage comprehensive orthotic patient care, including musculoskeletal and neuro…
207UN0903X	In Vivo & In Vitro Nuclear Medicine Physician	A nuclear medicine physician who specializes in in vivo and in vitro nuclear medicine.
213ES0103X	Foot & Ankle Surgery Podiatrist	Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Service Providers · Podiatrist
363LA2200X	Adult Health Nurse Practitioner	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Nurse Practitioner
103T00000X	Psychologist	A psychologist is an individual who is licensed to practice psychology which is defined as the observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, a…

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-88112-LIQUID-BASED-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SELECTIVE-CELLULAR-ENHANCEMENT

CPT 88112: Selective Cellular Enhancement for Cytopathology

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

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

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OpenPayer

CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

Sign up for cpt 88140 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

References

CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

Sign up for cpt 88140 policy alerts

CPT 88140: Peripheral Blood Smear for Sex Chromatin Identification

Sign up for cpt 88140 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

What does CPT 88140 represent and where is this service typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 88140 and when are they used?

What other CPT codes are commonly billed alongside or as follow-up to 88140?

In what clinical situations is sex chromatin identification using CPT 88140 used?

Who performs and supervises the testing described by CPT 88140, and which specialties are listed?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Codes

What does CPT 88140 represent and where is this service typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 88140 and when are they used?

What other CPT codes are commonly billed alongside or as follow-up to 88140?

In what clinical situations is sex chromatin identification using CPT 88140 used?

Who performs and supervises the testing described by CPT 88140, and which specialties are listed?

References