CPT® Code 86930

The CPT® Code 86930 refers to the laboratory procedure involved in the freezing of blood, specifically each unit of blood that undergoes the freezing process, which includes the necessary preparation steps. This procedure is essential for the long-term storage of red blood cells, allowing them to be preserved for future transfusions. The process begins with the collection of blood from a donor, which is a separately reportable procedure. Once the blood is obtained, it is prepared by separating the serum or plasma from the red blood cells. To protect the integrity of the red blood cells during the freezing process, they are treated with a glycerol-based cryoprotectant. This preservative penetrates the cell membrane and displaces water within the cells, a critical step known as glycerolization. This technique is vital as it helps maintain a pressure balance within the cells, preventing the formation of ice crystals that could lead to cell damage, such as swelling and bursting. The blood unit is then frozen at extremely low temperatures, specifically at -122.8 °F or lower, ensuring the viability of the red blood cells for future use. When the blood is needed for transfusion, it is thawed by placing it in a water bath maintained at 98.6°F (37°C) for approximately 30 minutes. Following thawing, the red blood cells undergo a washing process, known as deglycerolization, using a series of progressively dilute sodium solutions to remove the glycerol, any white blood cell fragments, and plasma. After this process, the thawed unit can be stored at temperatures between 1-6°C for up to 24 hours. If the thawed blood unit is not immediately required for transfusion, it may be refrozen, provided that a rejuvenation chemical is added prior to the refreezing process. The code 86930 specifically captures the preparation and freezing of a blood unit, while related codes 86931 and 86932 pertain to the thawing of frozen blood units and the comprehensive process of preparation, freezing, and thawing, respectively.