Summary & Overview
CPT 88182: Flow Cytometry for Cell Cycle or DNA Analysis
CPT code 88182 denotes a laboratory flow cytometry procedure that analyzes cell cycle or DNA content from specimens such as tumor tissue, body fluid, blood, bone marrow, or urine. This test supports diagnostic and treatment decision-making for malignancies by characterizing DNA content and cell cycle phases. Nationally, flow cytometry assays like this are central to hematology-oncology workups, disease monitoring, and targeted therapy planning.
Key payers relevant to coverage and payment patterns include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for CPT code 88182, an overview of typical sites of service and laboratory workflows, and guidance on the types of benchmarks and policy details commonly reviewed when evaluating this code. This includes reimbursement benchmarks, coding and billing considerations, and payer coverage trends where available. Data not available in the input for specific rates, taxonomies, and ICD-10 mappings is noted as not provided.
This publication is intended to give clinicians, laboratory managers, and revenue-cycle professionals a clear, national-level summary of what CPT code 88182 represents and the practical contexts in which it is used.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 88182 describes a flow cytometry analysis of cell cycle or DNA performed by a laboratory analyst on a patient specimen. The procedure evaluates the cell cycle distribution or DNA content of cells from specimens such as tumor tissue, body fluid, blood, bone marrow, or urine and can provide diagnostic and treatment information related to malignancy.
Service Type
- Laboratory diagnostic test — flow cytometry
Typical Site of Service
- Clinical laboratory
- Hospital laboratory
- Outpatient hospital or clinic laboratory
- Reference/central lab
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with a known history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma presents for evaluation of persistent cytopenias and suspected marrow involvement. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate specimens are sent to the clinical laboratory. The lab analyst performs a flow cytometry DNA/cell cycle analysis (88182) on the bone marrow specimen to assess DNA content, ploidy, and cell cycle distribution to help characterize tumor proliferation and to support diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. The workflow includes specimen accessioning, sample preparation (nuclear staining and fixation), instrument setup and calibration, acquisition of events, gating to identify malignant cell populations, data analysis of DNA histogram and cell cycle phases, and generation of a signed report. Results are used by the hematology/oncology team to correlate with morphologic review, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular testing for comprehensive malignancy evaluation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation/reporting component separate from technical processing. |
TC |