Laboratory CPT Codes: Complete List by Category With Billing Rules

Laboratory CPT codes are five-digit codes that describe the lab tests a laboratory performs. The American Medical Association (AMA) maintains them in the Pathology and Laboratory section of the CPT code set. This section runs from 80047 to 89398, plus Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) codes that end in “U.”

Labs use these codes to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers for every test they run. The right code depends on the test method, the number of components, and the specimen type. A single wrong digit can turn a paid claim into a denial.

This guide lists the most used lab CPT codes by category, from panels and chemistry to molecular and pathology codes. It also covers the billing rules, modifiers, ICD-10 pairings, and 2027 changes that decide whether each code gets paid. For the full revenue cycle behind these codes, see our laboratory billing guide.

What Are Laboratory CPT Codes?

Laboratory CPT codes are Current Procedural Terminology codes that report pathology and laboratory services. Each code describes one test or a defined group of tests. Payers use the code to decide the payment amount and whether the test is covered.

The AMA updates the CPT code set every year, with changes taking effect on January 1. PLA codes follow a faster cycle, with new codes released every quarter. Labs need current code files to avoid billing deleted or revised codes.

Lab CPT Codes vs HCPCS and PLA Codes

Lab claims can use three types of procedure codes: CPT, HCPCS Level II, and PLA. CPT codes cover most routine tests. HCPCS and PLA codes fill specific gaps that CPT does not describe.

Code Type	Format	Maintained By	Used For
CPT Category I	Five digits, such as 80053	AMA	Most lab tests and panels
PLA codes	Four digits plus “U,” such as 0001U	AMA	Proprietary tests from a single lab or manufacturer
CPT Category III	Four digits plus “T”	AMA	Emerging services, such as new AI-based pathology tests
HCPCS Level II	Letter plus four digits, such as G0480	CMS	Medicare-specific codes for drug testing and specimen collection

How Is the Pathology and Laboratory CPT Section Organized?

The Pathology and Laboratory section is divided into subsections by test type. Each subsection covers a code range for one area of testing. Knowing the ranges helps coders find the right code faster.

Subsection	Code Range	What It Covers
Organ or disease oriented panels	80047 to 80081	Grouped tests billed as one code
Therapeutic drug assays	80143 to 80299	Drug level monitoring
Presumptive drug class screening	80305 to 80307	Drug screens by method
Definitive drug testing	80320 to 80377	Confirmation of specific drugs
Evocative and suppression testing	80400 to 80439	Stimulation and suppression panels
Urinalysis	81000 to 81099	Urine tests by method
Molecular pathology	81105 to 81479	Gene tests, sequencing panels, unlisted code
Multianalyte assays (MAAA)	81490 to 81599	Algorithm-based tests with a score
Chemistry	82009 to 84999	Single analytes, such as glucose
Hematology and coagulation	85002 to 85999	Blood counts and clotting tests
Immunology	86000 to 86849	Antibody and antigen tests
Transfusion medicine	86850 to 86999	Blood typing and compatibility
Microbiology	87003 to 87999	Cultures, antigen tests, and NAATs
Cytopathology	88104 to 88199	Cell-based exams, such as Pap tests
Cytogenetics	88230 to 88299	Chromosome studies
Surgical pathology	88300 to 88399	Tissue exams, stains, and IHC
Reproductive medicine	89250 to 89398	Embryo and sperm procedures
PLA codes	0001U and up	Proprietary lab tests

What Are the Organ and Disease Panel CPT Codes?

Panel codes bundle several tests into one billable code. A lab can bill a panel only when it performs every component listed in the code. If one component is missing, the lab bills each test separately instead.

CPT Code	Panel	Components
80047	Basic metabolic panel, ionized calcium	8 tests with ionized calcium
80048	Basic metabolic panel (BMP)	Calcium, CO2, chloride, creatinine, glucose, potassium, sodium, BUN
80050	General health panel	CMP, CBC, and TSH
80051	Electrolyte panel	Sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2
80053	Metabolic panel (CMP)	BMP plus albumin, bilirubin, ALP, total protein, ALT, AST
80055	Obstetric panel	CBC, hepatitis B antigen, rubella, syphilis, antibody screen, blood typing
80061	Lipid panel	Total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides
80069	Renal function panel	10 kidney-related tests
80074	Acute hepatitis panel	Hepatitis A, B, and C markers
80076	Hepatic function panel	7 liver tests
80081	Obstetric panel with HIV	80055 components plus HIV testing

Panel Billing Rules

Three rules prevent most panel coding errors. Each one ties back to how CPT and NCCI define a panel.

• Bill the panel only when every component is performed. CMP (80053) requires all 14 tests on the same date of service.
• Do not bill a panel and its components on the same claim. This triggers an NCCI edit and a CO-97 bundling denial.
• Report extra tests separately. Tests beyond the panel’s components get their own codes.

What Are the Most Common Chemistry CPT Codes?

Chemistry codes report single analytes measured in blood, urine, or other fluids. They make up the largest share of routine lab claims. Many also carry payer frequency limits.

CPT Code	Test	Common Use
82947	Glucose, quantitative, blood	Diabetes screening and monitoring
83036	Hemoglobin A1c	Diabetes monitoring
84443	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	Thyroid screening
84439	Thyroxine, free (free T4)	Thyroid function
82306	Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy	Vitamin D status
82652	Vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxy	Kidney and calcium disorders
82607	Vitamin B-12	Anemia and neuropathy workup
82728	Ferritin	Iron stores
84153	Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), total	Prostate monitoring
84484	Troponin, quantitative	Heart muscle injury
83880	Natriuretic peptide (BNP)	Heart failure evaluation
82565	Creatinine, blood	Kidney function

Vitamin D, HbA1c, and PSA are the most common targets of frequency limits. Many Medicare contractors limit how often these tests are covered without a qualifying diagnosis.

Which CPT Codes Are Used for Urinalysis?

Urinalysis codes depend on two choices: automated or manual, and with or without microscopy. The code must match the method the lab actually used. Billing the wrong method code is one of the most common lab coding errors.

CPT Code	Method	Microscopy
81000	Non-automated (manual)	With microscopy
81001	Automated	With microscopy
81002	Non-automated (manual)	Without microscopy
81003	Automated	Without microscopy
81005	Qualitative or semiquantitative	Not applicable
81025	Urine pregnancy test, visual color comparison	Not applicable

In practice, labs using an automated analyzer should never bill 81002. The LIS should record the method at accessioning, so the correct code flows to the claim.

What Are the Hematology and Coagulation CPT Codes?

Hematology codes cover blood counts, while coagulation codes cover clotting tests. The complete blood count (CBC) is the most billed test in this group. The CBC code depends on whether the lab ran a differential.

CPT Code	Test	Billing Note
85025	CBC with automated differential	Use when the differential is performed
85027	CBC without differential	Use when no differential is reported
85610	Prothrombin time (PT/INR)	Common for warfarin monitoring
85730	Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)	Clotting pathway test
85379	D-dimer, quantitative	Clot breakdown marker
85652	Sedimentation rate (ESR), automated	Inflammation marker
85045	Reticulocyte count, automated	Bone marrow response

Which CPT Codes Cover Microbiology and Infectious Disease Tests?

Microbiology codes report cultures, antigen tests, and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Each code depends on the organism, the method, and sometimes the number of targets. Rapid antigen tests often need modifier QW.

Culture and Susceptibility Codes

CPT Code	Test
87040	Blood culture, bacterial
87070	Culture, bacterial, any other source except urine, blood, or stool
87086	Urine culture, bacterial, quantitative colony count
87088	Urine culture with isolation and presumptive identification, each isolate
87186	Susceptibility study, microdilution or agar dilution

Rapid Antigen Codes

CPT Code	Test	QW Often Required?
87880	Strep A antigen, direct optical observation	Yes, when CLIA-waived
87804	Influenza antigen, direct optical observation	Yes, when CLIA-waived
87811	SARS-CoV-2 antigen, direct optical observation	Yes, when CLIA-waived

Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAAT) Codes

CPT Code	Test
87635	SARS-CoV-2, amplified probe technique
87491	Chlamydia trachomatis, amplified probe technique
87591	Neisseria gonorrhoeae, amplified probe technique
87624	Human papillomavirus (HPV), high-risk types
87631	Respiratory virus panel, 3 to 5 targets
87632	Respiratory virus panel, 6 to 11 targets
87633	Respiratory virus panel, 12 to 25 targets

Respiratory panels with many targets draw extra payer scrutiny. Many payers cover large panels only for specific patients, such as those who are immunocompromised or hospitalized.

How Are Drug Testing and Toxicology Codes Billed?

Drug testing codes split into presumptive screens and definitive tests. Presumptive tests show whether a drug class is likely present. Definitive tests identify the specific drug and its amount.

Presumptive Drug Testing Codes

Presumptive codes are billed once per date of service, no matter how many drug classes are tested. The code depends on the testing method, not the number of drugs.

CPT Code	Method
80305	Read by direct optical observation, such as cups or dipsticks
80306	Read by instrument-assisted direct optical observation
80307	By instrument chemistry analyzers, such as immunoassay or mass spectrometry

Definitive Drug Testing Codes

Commercial payers usually accept CPT codes 80320 to 80377, while Medicare requires G0480 to G0483. The CPT codes are drug-class specific. The Medicare G-codes are grouped by how many drug classes the lab tested.

HCPCS Code	Drug Classes Tested
G0480	1 to 7 drug classes
G0481	8 to 14 drug classes
G0482	15 to 21 drug classes
G0483	22 or more drug classes

Toxicology is among the most audited lab areas. Labs need written reflex criteria and documented medical necessity for every definitive test.

What Are the Molecular Pathology and Genetic Testing CPT Codes?

Molecular pathology codes report tests that analyze DNA or RNA. CPT organizes them into Tier 1 single-gene codes, Tier 2 grouped codes, and genomic sequencing panels. Many molecular claims in MolDX states also need a DEX Z-Code.

Code Group	Code Range or Example	What It Covers
Tier 1 molecular codes	81105 to 81383 (approximate)	Specific gene tests, such as BRAF or CFTR
Tier 2 molecular codes	81400 to 81408	Less common gene tests grouped by complexity
Genomic sequencing panels	81410 to 81471	Multigene panels, such as tumor panels
Unlisted molecular code	81479	Tests with no specific code
MAAA codes	81490 to 81599	Algorithm-based tests that produce a score
PLA codes	0001U and up	Proprietary tests from a single lab

Common Molecular and Pharmacogenomic Codes

CPT Code	Test
81162	BRCA1 and BRCA2 full sequence and duplication or deletion analysis
81210	BRAF gene analysis, V600 variants
81220	CFTR gene analysis, common variants
81225	CYP2C19 gene analysis, common variants
81226	CYP2D6 gene analysis, common variants
81227	CYP2C9 gene analysis, common variants
81235	EGFR gene analysis, common variants
81445	Targeted genomic panel, solid organ tumor, 5 to 50 genes
81450	Targeted genomic panel, hematolymphoid tumor, 5 to 50 genes
81455	Targeted genomic panel, solid organ or hematolymphoid tumor, 51 or more genes

The CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9 codes support pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing. These tests show how a patient may process certain drugs, such as clopidogrel or some antidepressants. Coverage depends heavily on the drug being prescribed and the payer’s policy.

PLA Codes

When a PLA code exists for a proprietary test, labs should bill the PLA code instead of a generic molecular code. The AMA releases new PLA codes every quarter. A recent quarterly update added 29 PLA codes, revised two, and deleted four.

Which CPT Codes Cover Anatomic and Surgical Pathology?

Surgical pathology codes 88300 to 88309 report tissue exams at six levels of complexity. The level depends on the specimen type, not the time spent. Each specimen submitted for separate exam gets its own unit.

CPT Code	Level	Example Specimens
88300	Level I, gross exam only	Specimens examined without a microscope
88302	Level II	Routine tissue with low disease risk
88304	Level III	Gallbladder, appendix with lower complexity
88305	Level IV	Skin biopsy, colon biopsy, prostate needle biopsy
88307	Level V	More complex resections
88309	Level VI	Major resections, such as a colectomy for tumor

Stains, IHC, and Cytopathology Codes

CPT Code	Service
88312	Special stain, Group I, for microorganisms
88342	Immunohistochemistry (IHC), initial single antibody
88341	IHC, each additional single antibody
88112	Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique
88142	Cervical or vaginal cytopathology, thin layer prep, manual screening

Pathology claims often split into a technical component (TC) and a professional component (modifier 26). The lab bills the TC for slide prep, and the pathologist bills the professional read.

Which Codes Are Used for Specimen Collection?

Specimen collection codes report the act of drawing or collecting a sample. They are billed separately from the test itself. Medicare has its own rules for several of these codes.

Code	Service	Medicare Note
36415	Venous blood collection by venipuncture	Separately payable
36416	Capillary blood collection, such as a finger stick	Bundled, not paid separately
G0471	Venipuncture for a SNF or home health patient	Medicare-specific code
P9603	Travel allowance, prorated by miles	Medicare-specific code
P9604	Travel allowance, flat rate per trip	Medicare-specific code
99000	Specimen handling and conveyance	Bundled under Medicare

Which Modifiers Are Used With Laboratory CPT Codes?

Modifiers tell the payer something specific about how a lab test was performed or billed. A missing modifier often triggers an automatic rejection. These are the modifiers labs use most.

Modifier	Meaning	Common Use
QW	CLIA-waived test	Rapid antigen tests and other waived tests
90	Reference (outside) laboratory	Test sent to another lab for performance
91	Repeat clinical lab test	Same-day repeat for a new result, such as serial troponins
26	Professional component	Pathologist’s interpretation
TC	Technical component	Lab’s slide prep and processing
59 or XU	Distinct procedural service	Services NCCI would otherwise bundle
GA, GZ, GY	ABN and coverage status	Tests Medicare may not cover

Modifier 91 never applies to quality control repeats or instrument problems. It only applies when a repeat test is medically needed for a new clinical result.

How Do ICD-10 Codes Support Lab CPT Codes?

Every lab CPT code must link to an ICD-10-CM code that proves medical necessity. Payers compare the diagnosis to their coverage policy for that test. A mismatch triggers a CO-11 or CO-50 denial, even when the CPT code is correct.

CPT Code	Test	Example Supporting ICD-10-CM Codes
83036	Hemoglobin A1c	E11.9 (type 2 diabetes), E11.65 (with hyperglycemia)
84443	TSH	E03.9 (hypothyroidism), E05.90 (thyrotoxicosis)
85025	CBC with differential	D64.9 (anemia), R50.9 (fever)
80053	CMP	E87.6 (hypokalemia), N18.30 (CKD stage 3)
80061	Lipid panel	E78.5 (hyperlipidemia), Z13.220 (lipid screening)
82306	Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy	E55.9 (vitamin D deficiency), M81.0 (osteoporosis)
84484	Troponin	I21.9 (acute MI), R07.9 (chest pain)

Two Medicare screening rules catch many labs off guard. Screening PSA for Medicare uses G0103, not 84153. Medicare covers cardiovascular screening blood tests, including the lipid panel, once every five years.

What Lab CPT Code Changes Are Coming in 2027?

The CPT 2027 code set includes 453 changes, effective January 1, 2027. The AMA released 299 new codes, 74 revisions, and 80 deletions across all specialties. Labs should check each change against their test menu before January.

For labs, three updates matter most:

• New AI-based pathology codes: Five new Category III codes now describe algorithm-based pathology tests. CMS’s 2027 proposals point toward contractor pricing or hospital-specific rates, not a national CLFS rate.
• Ongoing PLA releases: New PLA codes continue every quarter, so molecular labs need quarterly code file updates.
• CLFS rate reset: New CLFS rates based on PAMA private payer data also take effect January 1, 2027.

What Are the Most Common Lab CPT Coding Errors?

Most lab coding errors repeat across hundreds of claims before anyone catches them. Each one has a simple fix at the charge capture stage.

Error	What Goes Wrong	Fix
Incomplete panels	Panel billed with a missing component	Bill individual tests when any component is missing
Panel unbundling	Panel and its components billed together	Roll components into the panel code
Wrong urinalysis method	81002 billed for an automated test	Map the LIS method to the correct code
Missing QW	Waived test billed without QW	Make QW a required field for waived tests
Misused modifier 91	91 added to QC repeats	Use 91 only for medically needed repeats
Generic molecular codes	812xx code billed when a PLA code exists	Keep a current PLA mapping table
Outdated codes	Deleted codes billed after January 1	Load new CPT and PLA files each update
Wrong toxicology codes	CPT definitive codes billed to Medicare	Use G0480 to G0483 for Medicare

How Can Labs Keep CPT Coding Accurate?

Accurate lab coding depends on current code files, LIS mapping, and coder review. Labs should load annual CPT updates each January and PLA updates every quarter. Charge capture rules in the LIS should match each test to its correct code and modifier.

Many labs work with outside laboratory billing providers to keep up with these changes. A strong partner tracks CPT, PLA, NCCI, and MolDX updates and applies them before claims go out.

Transcure’s laboratory billing services pair certified lab coders with lab-specific claim scrubbing. Every code, modifier, and diagnosis is checked against payer rules before submission.

Laboratory CPT Code FAQs

What Is the CPT Code Range for Laboratory Tests?

Laboratory and pathology CPT codes range from 80047 to 89398. PLA codes for proprietary tests start at 0001U. Medicare also uses some HCPCS Level II codes, such as G0480 to G0483.

What Is the Most Common Lab CPT Code?

The CBC with automated differential (85025) and the CMP (80053) are among the most billed lab codes. The lipid panel (80061), HbA1c (83036), and TSH (84443) are also high-volume codes.

Can You Bill a Panel and Individual Tests Together?

You cannot bill a panel and its own components on the same claim. Doing so triggers an NCCI bundling edit. Tests outside the panel’s components can be billed separately.

What Is the Difference Between CPT 81001 and 81003?

CPT 81001 is automated urinalysis with microscopy, while 81003 is automated urinalysis without microscopy. The code must match whether the lab actually performed microscopy.

Does Medicare Accept CPT Codes for Definitive Drug Testing?

Medicare requires HCPCS codes G0480 to G0483 for definitive drug testing instead of CPT codes 80320 to 80377. Many commercial payers accept the CPT codes, so labs need payer-specific rules.

How Often Do Lab CPT Codes Change?

Lab CPT codes change every January, and PLA codes change every quarter. CMS also updates NCCI edits, MUEs, and the CLFS on a quarterly or annual basis.

Which are the Top Laboratory Billing Companies in the U.S.?

Transcure, Lighthouse Lab Services, and PGM Billing are among the top laboratory billing companies in the U.S. Transcure ranks first for its certified lab coders, AI-powered claim scrubbing, and 4% to 5% pricing.