The new year rang in with a heavy storm of new coding changes for laboratory and pathology coding. The first half of the year is a critical time for coding professionals to review coding updates for correct reporting and gain an accurate understanding. With Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW) approaching this month, now is an excellent time to shine a spotlight on coding nuances that professionals may encounter. Our experts have prepared exclusive professional tips for elevated success. For 2025, key lab coding updates include new molecular pathology and MAAA codes, plus revisions to genomic sequencing procedures. CPT® 81195 now enables optical genome mapping for hematologic malignancies, while new MAAA codes cover bacterial vaginosis detection (81515), post-transplant monitoring (81558), and CNS tumor classification (0020M). Let’s examine the details of these codes and more below.
For 2025, the following molecular pathology Tier 1 code was added:
| CPT code | CPT description | Revenue Code |
| 81195 | Cytogenomic (genome-wide) analysis, hematologic malignancy, structural variants and copy number variants, optical genome mapping (OGM) | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
Note that this new code was established to detect structural and copy number variations related to hematological malignancies through the use of optical genome mapping (OGM) in cytogenomic genome-wide analysis.
The following Multianalyte Assays with Algorithmic Analyses (MAAA) codes were also added for 2025:
| CPT code | CPT description | Revenue Code |
| 81515 | Infectious disease, bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis, real-time PCR amplification of DNA markers for Atopobium vaginae, Atopobium species, Megasphaera type 1, and Bacterial Vaginosis Associated Bacteria-2 (BVAB-2), utilizing vaginal-fluid specimens, algorithm reported as positive or negative for high likelihood of bacterial vaginosis, includes separate detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida species (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis), Candida glabrata/Candida krusei, when reported | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
| 81558 | Transplantation medicine (allograft rejection, kidney), mRNA, gene expression profiling by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of 139 genes, utilizing whole blood, algorithm reported as a binary categorization as transplant excellence, which indicates immune quiescence, or not transplant excellence, indicating subclinical rejection | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
| 0020M | Oncology (central nervous system), analysis of 30000 DNA methylation loci by methylation array, utilizing DNA extracted from tumor tissue, diagnostic algorithm reported as probability of matching a reference tumor subclass | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
CPT code 81515 is a key update for 2025, replacing PLA code 0352U for detecting bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria. This test also separately identifies Candida species, Candida glabrata/Candida krusei, and Trichomonas vaginalis. Notably, it has been added to the list of approved CLIA-waived tests, effective January 1, 2025, when reported with modifier QW (MLN Matters Number: MM13858).
For post-transplant monitoring, CPT code 81558 provides gene expression profiling to assess transplant rejection risk. Be sure to check payer policies for coverage details. Additionally, the new MAAA code 0020M, known as the Epignostix CNS Tumor Methylation Classifier, uses a probability algorithm to classify CNS tumors based on a reference set of known tumor characteristics.
CPT code 81515 for detection of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria with an algorithm reported as detected or not detected and separate detection of Candida species, Candida glabrata/Candida krusei, and Trichomonas vaginalis, replaces PLA code 0352U, which was deleted for 2025. Additionally, understand that MLN Matters Number: MM13858 identifies CPT 81515 as being added to the list of approved CLIA waived tests effective January 1, 2025, when reported with modifier QW.
For reporting post-transplant monitoring by gene expression profiles to rule out transplant rejection, refer to CPT code 81558. Note: Be certain to review payer policies regarding coverage for this new code.
MAAA code 0020M—Epignostix CNS Tumor Methylation Classifier—utilizes a probability algorithm for determining the likelihood that the CNS tumor belongs to a specific, pre-defined subclass of tumors based on a reference set of known tumor characteristics.
For additional details on the MAAA code set including proprietary name and clinical laboratory or manufacturer, refer to Appendix O of the AMA CPT Manual. For the latest updates, go to https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/administrative-multianalyte-assays-algorithmic-analyses-codes.
The following genomic sequencing procedures (GSP) were revised for 2025:
| CPT code | CPT description | Revenue Code |
| 81432 | Hereditary breast cancer-related disorders (eg, hereditary breast cancer, hereditary ovarian cancer, hereditary endometrial cancer, hereditary pancreatic cancer, hereditary prostate cancer), genomic sequence analysis panel, 5 or more genes, interrogation for sequence variants and copy number variants | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
| 81435 | Hereditary colon cancer-related disorders (eg, Lynch syndrome, PTEN hamartoma syndrome, Cowden syndrome, familial adenomatosis polyposis), genomic sequence analysis panel, 5 or more genes, interrogation for sequence variants and copy number variants | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
| 81437 | Hereditary neuroendocrine tumor-related disorders (eg, medullary thyroid carcinoma, parathyroid carcinoma, malignant pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma), genomic sequence analysis panel, 5 or more genes, interrogation for sequence variants and copy number variants | 0300, 0309, 0310, 0319 |
Why did these codes receive revisions? These codes were revised to include duplication/deletion analysis and also revalued to crosswalk to PLA code 0129U as a result of the deletions to CPT codes 81433, 81436 and 81438 that follow. Stay tuned for further coding and policy updates throughout this year.
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