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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFNA Cytopathology ProceduresCPT cpt-88175-automated-thin-layer-cervical-vaginal-cytology-screening
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    CPT 88175: Automated Thin-Layer Cervicovaginal Cytology with Review

    CPT code 88175 describes an automated thin-layer preparation cervical or vaginal cytopathology test performed by a laboratory analyst using an automated screening system with manual rescreening or review under physician supervision; service type: clinical laboratory cytology testing with automated screening and manual review; typical site of service: clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory processing clinician-collected cervicovaginal specimens in preservative fluid.

    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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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old woman presents to her primary care clinic for routine cervical cancer screening. During the exam, a clinician collects a cervical cytology specimen using a cervical brush and places the specimen into liquid preservative (liquid-based cytology). The specimen is sent to the laboratory where a clinical laboratory technologist performs an automated thin-layer preparation and an automated screening system initially reviews the slide. Under a supervising pathologist’s direction, the technologist or cytology laboratory analyst manually rescreens or reviews flagged fields and prepares a final cytology report using a standardized reporting system (for example, the Bethesda System). The typical workflow includes specimen accessioning, preparation using an automated thin-layer processor, automated image-based screening, manual rescreen or physician review for abnormalities, result entry, and transmission of the final report to the ordering clinician. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinic or physician office for specimen collection and an independent or hospital-based cytology laboratory for processing and interpretation. Common clinical scenarios include routine screening (Z01.419 may be used in clinical practice as an encounter for screening), evaluation of abnormal vaginal bleeding, follow-up of prior abnormal cytology, or surveillance in patients with prior cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The laboratory technical component described by 88175 is billed for the automated thin layer preparation with automated screening and manual rescreen/manual review performed under physician supervision.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88142Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear; manual screening under physician supervision, requiring interpretation by a physician (single slide)Performed when manual screening is used instead of automated screening; may be billed if manual conventional Pap without automated thin-layer preparation.
    88164Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smears; automated screening with manual rescreening under physician supervision (may represent similar automated screening workflow)Closely related; 88164 is used for automated screening with manual rescreening on conventional preparations—billed when applicable depending on preparation method and payer guidance.
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear; cytotechnologist screening with physician review, manual methodRepresents cytotechnologist screening workflows without automated technology, relevant when automated thin-layer is not used.
    88177Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear; adjunctive technique(s) such as immunocytochemistry for HPV or other markersUsed for add-on ancillary testing when adjunctive techniques are performed on the cytology specimen following initial automated screening.
    88108Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear; collection and preparation of specimen (single or multiple slides) — Note: code historically used for manual preparations

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207L00000X
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    2355A2700X
    207RP1002X
    246ZG1000X
    106H00000X

    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-88172-FNA-CYTOLOGIC-RAPID-ONSITE-EVALUATION

    CPT 88172: Cytopathology Rapid On-Site Evaluation of FNA

    CPT-88173-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATE-CYTOPATHOLOGY-ANALYSIS-AND-REPORT

    CPT 88173: Cytopathology of Fine Needle Aspirate with Interpretation

    CPT-88174-AUTOMATED-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-SCREENING

    CPT 88174: Automated Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screening

    CPT-88177-CYTOPATHOLOGY-RAPID-ON-SITE-EVALUATION-ADDITIONAL-EPISODE

    CPT 88177: Rapid On-Site Cytopathology Evaluation for FNA

    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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    Related to specimen preparation aspects; collection is typically performed by the clinician and labs document preparation methods in their procedure codes.