Reader Question:
Cryopreservation of Stem Cells
Published on Mon May 01, 2000
Question: When peripheral blood stem cells are removed from a patient by apheresis, what code should be used to report the cryopreservation and storage of cells? We are using 86890 (autologous blood or component, collection processing and storage; predeposited) and 86930 (frozen blood, preparation for freezing, each unit).
New York Subscriber
Answer: Stem cells may survive for many years when protected from freezing injury. A cryoprotectant such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used to control the rate of cooling. The cells are stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer with the temperature monitored very closely.
To code the cryopreservation and storage of peripheral blood stem cells, use code 88240 (cryopreservation, freezing and storage of cells, each cell line). Notes following the CPT codes for bone marrow or stem cell transplantation services (38230-38241) direct coders to 88240, which was a new code for this service in CPT 1999. Prior to that time, this service could be coded using 86890 and 86930 as you mentioned.
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