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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFlow Cytometry ProceduresCPT cpt-88185-flow-cytometry-technical-component-add-on-marker
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    CPT 88185: Flow Cytometry, Additional Marker Technical Component

    Medicare pays $24 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88185 describes the laboratory technical component for an additional flow cytometry marker panel used to characterize cells by cell surface, cytoplasmic, or nuclear markers; this service type is a laboratory diagnostic add-on procedure typically performed in an outpatient or hospital clinical laboratory setting to assist clinicians in diagnosing hematologic malignancies, immune disorders, and related conditions.

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

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with persistent lymphadenopathy and abnormal peripheral blood counts is referred by a hematologist to the clinical laboratory for flow cytometric immunophenotyping. A diagnostic specimen (peripheral blood and a bone marrow aspirate) is collected in the outpatient infusion center and sent to the lab. The laboratory technologist prepares and stains the sample with a primary antibody panel to identify major cell populations; additional markers are required to further characterize aberrant lymphoid populations. The lab analyst performs the technical component of the additional flow cytometry markers using cell surface and intracellular antibodies to refine lineage assignment and detect clonal populations, generating quantitative scatter and fluorescence data for the pathologist’s interpretation. The full workflow includes specimen accessioning, panel preparation, instrument setup and quality control, acquisition of additional marker data, data analysis and generation of raw outputs. The procedure supports diagnostic evaluation for conditions such as B‑cell or T‑cell lymphoproliferative disorders, minimal residual disease monitoring after therapy, and immune dysfunction evaluation in oncology or transplant patients. Typical sites of service include hospital-based clinical laboratories, independent reference laboratories, and outpatient pathology or hematology laboratories. The service type is a laboratory technical component for additional flow cytometry markers performed after the initial marker set represented by the primary flow cytometry code.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88184Flow cytometry; first cell surface, cytoplasmic or nuclear marker (list separately in addition to code for additional markers)Represents the primary flow cytometry technical component for the initial marker; 88185 is appended for each additional marker beyond the first.
    88189Flow cytometry; interpretation and reportUsed by the pathologist or physician to report the professional component (interpretation) of flow cytometry data derived from the technical runs including additional markers.
    89051Bone marrow aspiration, diagnosticCommon preceding procedure that provides specimen (bone marrow aspirate) for flow cytometry testing in hematologic evaluations.
    86304Antibody; screening (e.g., flow cytometry)Immunoassays or antibody testing that may be performed in parallel; included when serologic correlation is required.
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationUsed when tissue biopsies (e.g., lymph node biopsy) are processed and correlated with flow cytometry findings in diagnosing lymphoproliferative disorders.

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    207K00000X
    2080P0208X
    207L00000X
    323P00000X
    2081P0010X
    2085R0205X
    3140N1450X

    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-88184-FLOW-CYTOMETRY-TECHNICAL-FIRST-MARKER

    CPT 88184: Flow Cytometry, Single 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.
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