Question:
What are the current options for the analysis of somatic cancers? Are there codes for RNA-only analysis?
Answer:
To meet current-day standards for the analysis of somatic cancers, CPT® has been updated to allow four options: 1) DNA analysis only, 2) DNA and RNA combined as a single analysis, 3) DNA and RNA analyzed separately, and 4) RNA analysis, only. To achieve this updated reporting, three new CPT® codes—81449, 81451, and 81456—for targeted somatic cancer panels have been added for RNA-only analysis.
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