CPT code 88184: Flow cytometry, first marker, technical component2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Reports laboratory technical work for the first flow-cytometry marker, commonly in immunophenotyping of blood or marrow for hematologic malignancy.
Medicare pays $74.25–$78.81 for 88184 in the office in Michigan, from Rest of Michigan to Detroit, MI. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 88184 covers
A laboratory performs the technical work to analyze the first cell-surface, cytoplasmic, or nuclear marker in a flow-cytometry study. This testing is commonly part of immunophenotyping to characterize abnormal cell populations in blood, bone marrow, or another submitted specimen. Laboratory personnel prepare and run the specimen on a flow cytometer; a qualified professional interprets the findings separately.
Report 88184 for the first marker, with 88185 for each additional marker when performed. The record should identify the specimen and markers tested and support the technical work performed. CMS classifies 88184 as technical-component-only: it covers laboratory processing and analysis, not the professional interpretation. Report the appropriate interpretation code separately based on the number of markers interpreted; 88187, 88188, and 88189 cover different marker-count ranges.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 88184 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $78.81 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $74.25 | Unavailable |
How the 88184 rate is calculated
Each of 88184’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 88184
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.41
2.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.4300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$81.16
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88184
The CMS indicators that decide how 88184 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88184
Flow cytometry, first marker, technical component
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 3 | Technical component only. |
88184 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88185Flow cytometry add-onTechnical work, each additional marker
- 88184 is for the first marker in the study; 88185 is used for each additional marker.
- 88187Flow cytometry2–8 marker interpretation
- 88184 reports technical work for the first marker. 88187 reports professional interpretation when 2–8 markers are interpreted.
- 88182Cell marker studyLimited analysis
- 88184 is used for technical work on a flow-cytometry marker. 88182 is for flow-cytometric cell-cycle or DNA analysis.
88184 billing questions
When should 88184 be reported instead of 88185?
Use 88184 for the first marker in the flow-cytometry study. Use 88185 for each additional marker.
Does 88184 include the professional interpretation?
No. It represents the technical work only; the interpretation is reported separately with the applicable flow-cytometry reading code.
Which interpretation code is paired with 88184?
The interpretation code depends on the number of markers interpreted: 88187 covers 2–8, 88188 covers 9–15, and 88189 covers 16 or more.
What documentation supports reporting 88184?
Document the specimen, the marker panel tested, and the laboratory technical work performed. The record should make clear which marker was the first in the study.
Can 88184 be reported for every marker tested?
No. Report 88184 for the first marker; report 88185 for each additional marker.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
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