© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
An automated complete blood count (CBC) is a laboratory test that provides a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's overall health. This test measures several key components of the blood, including hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count. The CBC serves as a vital screening tool to assess various health conditions and symptoms, such as fatigue, bruising, bleeding, and signs of inflammation. It can also aid in the diagnosis of infections and other medical conditions. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body, while hematocrit indicates the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells, typically expressed as a percentage. The RBC count quantifies the number of red blood cells in a specific volume of blood, which is crucial for determining the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. The WBC count measures the number of white blood cells, which play a critical role in the immune response, and can be further analyzed through a differential count that categorizes the five types of white blood cells: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Lastly, the platelet count assesses the number of platelets in the blood, which are essential for blood clotting. The CBC is conducted using an automated blood cell counting instrument, which enhances accuracy and efficiency in obtaining these critical measurements. For cases where a differential WBC count is required, the appropriate code to use is 85025, while 85027 is designated for a CBC without the differential count.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The automated complete blood count (CBC) is performed for various indications, including:
The procedure for conducting an automated complete blood count (CBC) involves several key steps:
After the automated complete blood count (CBC) is performed, there are generally no specific post-procedure care requirements for the patient. However, it is important for the healthcare provider to review the results in the context of the patient's clinical history and symptoms. If any abnormalities are detected, further diagnostic testing or follow-up may be necessary to determine the underlying cause. Patients may be advised to discuss their results with their healthcare provider to understand the implications and any potential next steps in their care.
| Short Descr | COMPLETE CBC AUTOMATED | Medium Descr | BLOOD COUNT COMPLETE AUTOMATED | Long Descr | Blood count; complete (CBC), automated (Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC and platelet count) | Status Code | Statutory Exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies) | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 9 - Not Applicable | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | CLIA Waived (QW) | No | APC Status Indicator | Conditionally packaged laboratory tests | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1D - Lab tests - blood counts | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 233 - Laboratory - Chemistry and Hematology |
| 90 | Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 91 | Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | AY | Item or service furnished to an esrd patient that is not for the treatment of esrd | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | Q4 | Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AG | Primary physician | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | FA | Left hand, thumb | FP | Service provided as part of family planning program | HO | Masters degree level | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | PN | Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q3 | Live kidney donor surgery and related services | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | QW | Clia waived test | TB | Drug or biological acquired with 340b drug pricing program discount, reported for informational purposes | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2003-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.