Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: We have a hematopathologist who is performing convalescent plasma infusion for COVID-19 patients. The work involves identifying ABO and Rh compatible convalescent patients with high SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers, taking plasma from those patients, and infusing the plasma into the COVID-19 patient. How should we code this?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: The appropriate code is 36430 (Transfusion, blood or blood components). You should consider convalescent plasma a blood component. As such, the procedure you describe is just like any other transfusion or infusion using a plasma product.

Context: The FDA has issued guidance for the use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients, available at www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/investigational-new-drug-ind-or-device-exemption-ide-process-cber/recommendations-investigational-covid-19-convalescent-plasma. You can also find a directory of trials and clinics involved in this treatment at ccpp19.org/index.html.