2025 CPT code 88237
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Laboratory - Cytogenetic Studies Pathology and Laboratory Feed
Tissue culture for neoplastic disorders using bone marrow or blood cells.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of service.Consult your local payer guidelines and the current CPT modifier guidelines.
Medical necessity for 88237 is established when there is a clinical suspicion of a hematologic malignancy or a need to monitor minimal residual disease after treatment.The test is critical for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in various hematological disorders.
The clinical responsibility lies with the laboratory professional who performs the cell culture and preparation for subsequent cytogenetic analysis.The ordering physician is responsible for the clinical indication and interpretation of the results.
In simple words: The lab grows a sample of your bone marrow or blood cells to increase their numbers for testing. This helps doctors diagnose and treat cancers of the blood.
This CPT code, 88237, represents the tissue culture procedure performed on bone marrow or blood cells in cases of neoplastic disorders.The procedure involves culturing cells to increase their number for further cytogenetic analysis, such as karyotyping or flow cytometry. This is crucial for diagnosing and managing various hematologic malignancies. The laboratory professional performs technical steps to culture the cells, typically taking 3-4 days at 37°C.The process leads to metaphase chromosome preparation, making chromosomes visible for analysis.
Example 1: A patient presents with suspected acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Bone marrow aspirate is collected and sent to the lab for tissue culture (88237) followed by karyotyping to identify chromosomal abnormalities characteristic of AML., A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) undergoes a bone marrow biopsy. The cells are cultured (88237) to increase the number of cells available for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing, which detects specific genetic abnormalities associated with CLL progression., Following a bone marrow transplant, a patient’s bone marrow sample is sent for tissue culture (88237) to detect any residual leukemic cells, monitoring the effectiveness of the transplant.
* Patient demographics and relevant clinical history.* Reason for ordering the test (e.g., suspected hematologic malignancy, post-transplant monitoring).* Specimen type (bone marrow aspirate, peripheral blood).* Date and time of specimen collection.* Information regarding medications or recent transfusions.
** The quality of the specimen significantly impacts the success of the cell culture.Poor quality specimens may delay results or lead to unsuccessful testing.Always ensure proper collection and handling of the bone marrow or blood sample according to laboratory guidelines.
- Revenue Code: T1H (LAB TESTS - OTHER (NON-MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE))
- RVU: Relative Value Units (RVUs) are not provided in the source data.These values vary depending on geographic location, payer, and other factors. Consult your local Medicare fee schedule or the payer's specific reimbursement rates for this CPT code.
- Global Days: This is a laboratory procedure; global periods do not apply.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Technical component (TC) modifier may apply; consult with payer guidelines to determine appropriateness.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule data is not available in the provided source. Consult your local Medicare fee schedule or your payer’s reimbursement database.
- Specialties:Hematology, Oncology, Pathology
- Place of Service:Hospital, Laboratory, Outpatient clinic