Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFlow Cytometry ProceduresCPT cpt-88184-flow-cytometry-technical-first-marker
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 88184: Flow Cytometry, Single Marker (Technical Component)

    Medicare pays $85 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88184 describes the laboratory technical component for a flow cytometry assay that uses a single cell surface, cytoplasmic, or nuclear marker to characterize cells and assist clinicians in diagnosing conditions such as hematologic malignancies or immune dysfunctions; service type: diagnostic laboratory/flow cytometry (technical component); typical site of service: hospital or independent clinical laboratory performing specimen preparation, staining, and instrument acquisition for the first marker.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hematology - Adzynma, Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancer, Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverage.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 88184 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 88184 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

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

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 6

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with unexplained persistent lymphadenopathy and cytopenias is referred to hematology-oncology. The clinician orders flow cytometry to characterize peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate cells using cell surface markers to evaluate for suspected non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukemia. A phlebotomy or bone marrow collection is performed; specimens are sent to the clinical laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs the technical component of flow cytometry, preparing specimens, running cells through the flow cytometer, staining with the initial fluorescently labeled antibody marker, acquiring and gating data, and generating instrument files and preliminary technical observations. Results are reported to the ordering clinician, who integrates flow cytometry findings with morphology and cytogenetics to establish diagnosis and direct treatment planning. The procedure billed under 88184 reflects the technical work for the first marker in a single- or multi-color panel; additional markers are billed separately when applicable.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88305Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationPerformed when tissue biopsy morphology is required alongside flow cytometry for lymphoma diagnosis; complements 88184.
    88185Flow cytometry, technical component; each additional marker (List separately in addition to code for primary marker)Billed for each additional marker beyond the first marker included in 88184.
    88184Flow cytometry, technical component, first markerThe primary code described; covers the initial marker staining and technical data acquisition.
    88175Flow cytometry, cell identification by fluorescence (if applicable)May represent related flow cytometry services in some billing contexts when different methods or combined panels are used.
    85025Blood count; automated differential WBC count with automated CBCOften ordered contemporaneously to assess cytopenias and to provide specimen context for flow cytometry.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    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…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    364ST0500X
    174MM1900X
    207ZM0300X
    2278C0205X
    225000000X
    207Q00000X
    246X00000X
    163WX1500X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hematology - AdzynmaCigna2026-10-15
    Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancerselect_health2026-10-01
    Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) CoverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Epithelial Cell Cytology in Breast Cancer Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Factor VIII ProductsCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-88182-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-CELL-CYCLE-DNA-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88182: Flow Cytometry for Cell Cycle / DNA Analysis

    CPT-88185-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-TECHNICAL-COMPONENT-ADD-ON-MARKER

    CPT 88185: Flow Cytometry, Additional Marker Technical Component

    CPT-88187-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-INTERPRETATION-2-TO-8-MARKERS

    CPT 88187: Flow Cytometry Interpretation, 2–8 Markers

    CPT-88188-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-INTERPRETATION-9-15-MARKERS

    CPT 88188: Flow Cytometry Interpretation, 9–15 Markers

    CPT-88189-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-INTERPRETATION-16-OR-MORE-MARKERS

    CPT 88189: Flow Cytometry Interpretation, 16+ Markers

    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.
    Published by

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

    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.