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HCPCS U0001: CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel

HCPCS Level II code U0001 designates the CDC 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) real-time RT-PCR diagnostic panel, a molecular test used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Nationally, this code has been central to pandemic response efforts by enabling standardized billing and tracking for a high-volume diagnostic service critical to case identification, public health surveillance, and clinical decision-making.

Analysis covers major national payers: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise briefing on payer coverage considerations, common billing modifiers, and operational contexts for laboratories and hospital services. The publication outlines typical sites of service and the clinical applicability of the assay, and highlights what national stakeholders consider when processing claims for this test.

This summary provides benchmarks and policy context relevant to payers and providers, including coding purpose, typical service workflows, and areas where payers and laboratories frequently address coverage, documentation, and claim adjudication. Data not available in the input for specific payer policies, reimbursement rates, or claim-level metrics are noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code U0001 represents the CDC 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) real-time RT-PCR diagnostic panel. This code is used to report laboratory testing that detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA using a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Service type: Diagnostic molecular laboratory test (real-time RT-PCR).

Typical site of service: Clinical laboratories, hospital laboratories, public health laboratories, and other certified laboratory facilities performing molecular diagnostic testing.

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HCPCS U0001: CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Diagnostic molecular laboratory test (real-time RT-PCR).

Typical site of service: Clinical laboratories, hospital laboratories, public health laboratories, and other certified laboratory facilities performing molecular diagnostic testing.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A symptomatic adult presents to an urgent care clinic with fever, cough, and shortness of breath during a period of community spread of SARS-CoV-2. The clinician performs a focused evaluation, documents travel and exposure history, and determines molecular testing is indicated. A nasopharyngeal swab is collected by a licensed clinician or trained staff and sent to a laboratory capable of running the CDC 2019 novel coronavirus real-time RT-PCR diagnostic panel billed with U0001. Specimen handling includes labeling, appropriate transport media, and chain-of-custody documentation. The laboratory performs nucleic acid extraction and real-time RT-PCR targeting SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and reports results to the ordering clinician for isolation and treatment decisions. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and public health laboratories.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier applicable (default)	Use when no specific modifier applies to the service billed with `U0001`.
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service on the same day	Use when an E/M visit is reported the same day as specimen collection and the visit is distinct from the testing service.
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the professional component of the laboratory service (interpretation) if applicable.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical component (laboratory processing) of the test.
`QW`	CLIA waived test kit	Use when the test performed is CLIA-waived and the kit meets `QW` requirements (note: `U0001` is a molecular PCR panel; `QW` rarely applies).
`QX`	CLIA waived test performed by an unlicensed person	Use when a CLIA-waived test is performed by a non-waived personnel under specific payer rules (generally not typical for `U0001`).
`62`	Two surgeons (Co-surgeons)	Rarely applicable; use only if two providers share distinct portions of specimen collection or procedure requiring co-surgeon reporting.
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during postoperative period	Not typical for diagnostic testing; use only if an operative re-entry is clinically related.
`90`	Reference laboratory (Not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`CR`	Catastrophe/disaster related	Use when the service is provided as part of a declared disaster response if the payer recognizes this modifier.
`SH`	Assistant at surgery unrelated to this test	Rarely applicable; use only if an assistant is documented for a procedure performed with the test.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services	Use when a mid-level practitioner performs specimen collection under payer rules and their services require the `AS` modifier.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207Q00000X`	Infectious Disease (Physician)	Physicians who order and interpret complex molecular infectious disease testing.
`261QM0800X`	Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist	Professionals who perform molecular diagnostic testing in the lab.
`363A00000X`	Pathology/Laboratory Medicine	Laboratories and pathologists overseeing testing quality and result interpretation.
`208000000X`	Emergency Medicine	Clinicians in EDs who commonly order SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing.
`208D00000X`	Family Medicine	Primary care and urgent care providers who collect specimens and order testing.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`J12.82`	Pneumonia due to coronavirus	Indicates lower respiratory tract infection with coronavirus; justifies molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2.
`U07.1`	COVID-19	Confirms diagnosis of COVID-19; used when testing is performed for suspected or confirmed infection.
`R05`	Cough	Symptom prompting diagnostic testing for respiratory pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.
`R50.9`	Fever, unspecified	Fever is a common symptom leading to ordering of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR.
`Z20.828`	Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases	Used when testing is performed due to known exposure to a COVID-19 case.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87631`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); SARS-CoV-2, amplified probe technique	Commonly used as an alternative or follow-up molecular assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection; may be billed when platform-specific CPT is appropriate.
`87641`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); multiple types/targets, 1-2 targets	Used for multiplex respiratory panels that include SARS-CoV-2 and other viral targets; relates when broader panels are performed instead of a single-target PCR.
`99213`	Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutes	Typical E/M level billed when a clinician evaluates symptoms and orders the RT-PCR test the same day.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from office to another lab (specimen handling)	Billed when a provider charges for special specimen handling and transport associated with testing.
`G2023`	Specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, required ancillary service, HCPCS G-code	Used by some payers to report specimen collection for COVID-19 testing when applicable; billed in conjunction with molecular test.

HCPCS U0002: SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Target Molecular Test (Non-CDC)

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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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.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier applicable (default)	Use when no specific modifier applies to the service billed with `U0001`.
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service on the same day	Use when an E/M visit is reported the same day as specimen collection and the visit is distinct from the testing service.
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the professional component of the laboratory service (interpretation) if applicable.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical component (laboratory processing) of the test.
`QW`	CLIA waived test kit	Use when the test performed is CLIA-waived and the kit meets `QW` requirements (note: `U0001` is a molecular PCR panel; `QW` rarely applies).
`QX`	CLIA waived test performed by an unlicensed person	Use when a CLIA-waived test is performed by a non-waived personnel under specific payer rules (generally not typical for `U0001`).
`62`	Two surgeons (Co-surgeons)	Rarely applicable; use only if two providers share distinct portions of specimen collection or procedure requiring co-surgeon reporting.
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during postoperative period	Not typical for diagnostic testing; use only if an operative re-entry is clinically related.
`90`	Reference laboratory (Not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`CR`	Catastrophe/disaster related	Use when the service is provided as part of a declared disaster response if the payer recognizes this modifier.
`SH`	Assistant at surgery unrelated to this test	Rarely applicable; use only if an assistant is documented for a procedure performed with the test.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services	Use when a mid-level practitioner performs specimen collection under payer rules and their services require the `AS` modifier.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207Q00000X`	Infectious Disease (Physician)	Physicians who order and interpret complex molecular infectious disease testing.
`261QM0800X`	Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist	Professionals who perform molecular diagnostic testing in the lab.
`363A00000X`	Pathology/Laboratory Medicine	Laboratories and pathologists overseeing testing quality and result interpretation.
`208000000X`	Emergency Medicine	Clinicians in EDs who commonly order SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing.
`208D00000X`	Family Medicine	Primary care and urgent care providers who collect specimens and order testing.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`J12.82`	Pneumonia due to coronavirus	Indicates lower respiratory tract infection with coronavirus; justifies molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2.
`U07.1`	COVID-19	Confirms diagnosis of COVID-19; used when testing is performed for suspected or confirmed infection.
`R05`	Cough	Symptom prompting diagnostic testing for respiratory pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.
`R50.9`	Fever, unspecified	Fever is a common symptom leading to ordering of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR.
`Z20.828`	Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases	Used when testing is performed due to known exposure to a COVID-19 case.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`87631`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); SARS-CoV-2, amplified probe technique	Commonly used as an alternative or follow-up molecular assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection; may be billed when platform-specific CPT is appropriate.
`87641`	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); multiple types/targets, 1-2 targets	Used for multiplex respiratory panels that include SARS-CoV-2 and other viral targets; relates when broader panels are performed instead of a single-target PCR.
`99213`	Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutes	Typical E/M level billed when a clinician evaluates symptoms and orders the RT-PCR test the same day.
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from office to another lab (specimen handling)	Billed when a provider charges for special specimen handling and transport associated with testing.
`G2023`	Specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, required ancillary service, HCPCS G-code	Used by some payers to report specimen collection for COVID-19 testing when applicable; billed in conjunction with molecular test.

HCPCS U0002: SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Target Molecular Test (Non-CDC)

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

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

OpenPayer

HCPCS U0001: CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel

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Billing Code Overview

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HCPCS U0001: CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References