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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesCytopathology Screening ProceduresCPT cpt-88147-automated-cervical-vaginal-cytopathology-screening
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    CPT 88147: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screening, Technical

    CPT code 88147 describes a technical laboratory screening performed by a lab analyst for a cervical or vaginal cytopathology smear using an automated screening system; the service represents one automated screening and is typically provided in a clinical laboratory or hospital lab setting under physician supervision.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: General Inflammation Testing, Urine Culture Testing for Bacteria, Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old patient presents to a women's health clinic for routine cervical cancer screening. A clinician obtains a cervical/vaginal cytology specimen (Pap smear) during the pelvic exam and places the specimen into the laboratory’s collection medium. The specimen is accessioned in the cytology laboratory where a lab technologist or cytotechnologist prepares the sample for automated slide screening. Under the supervision of a pathologist, the laboratory uses an automated screening system to perform one technical screening pass of the cervical/vaginal cytology smear. If the automated system flags abnormalities or the technologist notes atypia, the case is reviewed by cytology staff and the pathologist for microscopic interpretation and final diagnosis. Typical sites of service include outpatient ambulatory clinics, physician offices, and independent or hospital-based clinical laboratories.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), automated thin layer preparation; manual screening under physician supervision (per slide)Alternative screening code for manual review or different automated preparation methods performed in the cytology workflow.
    88142Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), automated thin layer preparation; automated screening with manual rescreening by a technologist (per slide)Performed when automated screening is followed by a manual rescreen; complements 88147 when additional manual review is required.
    88160Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal; collection of cervical or vaginal smear, including alcohol fixation (separate procedure)Represents specimen collection and fixation steps performed by the clinician prior to laboratory screening.
    88175Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal; image assisted automated screening and rescreening, per slideUsed for advanced automated image-assisted screening systems that may be employed in conjunction with or instead of the automated screening coded by 88147.
    88305Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, intermediate complexityUsed when a tissue biopsy (e.g., colposcopy-directed cervical biopsy) is performed after abnormal cytology and requires histopathologic interpretation.

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    261QR1300X
    207RI0011X
    261QM1103X
    207LP3000X
    207XS0106X
    163WI0500X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Laboratory/Pathology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    General Inflammation TestingOscar Health2027-01-01
    Urine Culture Testing for BacteriaOscar Health2027-01-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2027-01-01
    Policy Regarding Outpatient Definitive Drug TestingMolina Healthcare2027-01-01
    Serum Testing for Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryHealthfirst2026-11-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Serum Iron StudiesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Prothrombin Time (PT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-88141-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 88141: Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Interpretation

    CPT-88142-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-MANUAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88142: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT-88143-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-MANUAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88143: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT-88148-CYTOPATHOLOGY-AUTOMATED-SCREEN-MANUAL-RESCREEN

    CPT 88148: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screen with Manual Rescreening

    CPT-88150-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SLIDE-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88150: Manual Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Technical Analysis

    CPT-88152-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-COMPUTER-ASSISTED-RESCREEN

    CPT 88152: Cervical/Vaginal Cytopathology Manual Technical with Computer-Assisted Rescreening

    CPT-88153-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-MANUAL-RESCREENING

    CPT 88153: Manual Rescreen of Cervical or Vaginal Cytology Slide

    CPT-88155-CERVICOVAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-HORMONE-EVALUATION

    CPT 88155: Cervicovaginal Cytopathology Hormone Evaluation

    CPT-88160-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88160: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Interpretation

    CPT-88161-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88161: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Technical Analysis

    Showing 1–10 of 15

    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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