CPT® Code 88189

Flow cytometry is a sophisticated laboratory technique utilized to analyze the characteristics of cells or particles in a fluid as they pass through a laser or other light source. The procedure involves the measurement of cell surface, cytoplasmic, or nuclear markers in various biological samples, including whole blood, serum, and bone marrow. During flow cytometry, an antigen/antibody reaction is employed to study specific proteins located on the cell membrane, as well as intracellular proteins, peptides, and DNA. The flow cytometer, which is a specialized instrument, is controlled by a computer program that manages the data acquisition process. As cells flow through the instrument, they are illuminated by lasers, and the emitted light is captured and analyzed. The results are displayed in the form of histograms, which visually represent the data collected. The interpretation of the flow cytometry results is performed by a physician, who is responsible for identifying the specific instrument and software utilized during the testing process. The physician compiles a selection of graphs and displays that illustrate the separation of cells based on their appearance and the light-emitting dyes used in the analysis. This detailed examination allows for the identification of cells of interest, which can then be further studied to provide insights into various medical conditions. Following the analysis, the physician provides a comprehensive written interpretation of the data, summarizing the findings and their clinical significance. It is important to note that different CPT® codes are designated for varying numbers of markers analyzed: code 88187 is applicable for the interpretation of 2-8 markers, code 88188 for 9-15 markers, and code 88189 for 16 or more markers.