Summary & Overview
CPT 88148: Automated Cervicovaginal Cytology Screen with Manual Rescreen
Headline: CPT code 88148: Automated Cervicovaginal Cytology Screening with Manual Rescreen
Lead: CPT code 88148 identifies a laboratory technical service in which a lab analyst conducts an automated screen of a cervical or vaginal cytology smear and follows with a manual rescreening under physician supervision. The code captures a common cytopathology workflow that supports cervical cancer screening programs and laboratory diagnostic quality control.
This publication explains the clinical and billing context for CPT code 88148 and why it matters nationally. The code applies to laboratory-based cytopathology screening and is relevant to hospital and independent clinical laboratories processing Pap smears and other cervicovaginal cytology specimens. Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find an overview of the service captured by the code, the typical site of service, common billing modifiers and their presence in payer policies, and how the code fits into cytopathology workflows. The report also summarizes available benchmarks, national policy considerations affecting lab reimbursement and supervision, and clinical context related to automated screening technologies and manual rescreen confirmation. Data not available in the input will be noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 88148 describes a laboratory service in which a lab analyst performs an automated screening of a cervical or vaginal cytopathology smear followed by a manual rescreening under a physician’s supervision. The procedure is a technical cytopathology screening with manual rescreen performed by laboratory personnel.
Service Type: Laboratory cytopathology screening (technical service with manual rescreening)
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or pathology laboratory (off-site laboratory or hospital laboratory setting)
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old patient presents to a gynecology clinic for routine cervical cancer screening. A pelvic exam is performed and a cervical cytology (Pap) specimen is collected using a cervical brush and liquid-based cytology vial. The specimen is sent to a centralized cytology laboratory. The lab analyst performs an automated primary screening of the cervical/vaginal cytology smear using an FDA-cleared automated screening system, flagging any slides requiring review. The analyst then performs a manual rescreen of flagged or high-risk slides under the supervision of a pathologist. The physician provides final review and signs the report. Typical sites of service include outpatient gynecology clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and independent clinical laboratories. Common clinical indications include routine screening, follow-up of an abnormal prior Pap, post-treatment surveillance, or evaluation of abnormal bleeding.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing physician interpretation separate from the lab's technical component. |
TC | Technical component | Use when billing only the laboratory technical service for the automated screen and manual rescreen. |