CPT code 88346: Immunofluorescence, initial antibody stain2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports the initial immunofluorescence antibody stain performed on a tissue specimen, such as a kidney or skin biopsy, for pathologic evaluation.
Medicare pays $136.94 for 88346 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $120.68–$188.58.
Medicare rate · 88346
Immunofluorescence, initial antibody stain
- Work RVUs
- 0.72
- Total RVUs
- 4.10
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$136.94
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 88346 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
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 10 sections
What 88346 covers
A pathology laboratory applies an antibody-based fluorescent stain to tissue so a pathologist can evaluate the pattern and location of the target in the specimen. This work is commonly part of evaluating kidney biopsies for immune deposits or skin biopsies for suspected immunobullous disease. The code represents the initial stain procedure for a specimen, not a general pathology consultation or a routine histologic stain.
Report one initial stain for the specimen; additional single-antibody immunofluorescence stains are represented by 88350. Documentation should identify the specimen and support the stain performed and the pathologist’s interpretation. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the technical work, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. CMS separately prices the 26 and TC components.
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 88346 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$120.68 to $188.58
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $122.52 | Unavailable |
| Alaska | $155.79 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $133.33 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $120.68 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta, GA | $139.01 | Unavailable |
| Austin, TX | $143.37 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $147.75 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore area, MD | $145.73 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $126.80 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $135.91 | Unavailable |
| Chicago, IL | $138.97 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $144.17 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $146.25 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $136.57 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $135.62 | Unavailable |
| Detroit, MI | $133.71 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $129.01 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $139.21 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $135.46 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $136.18 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $151.85 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $136.73 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $127.46 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $128.26 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $126.83 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $125.70 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $124.44 | Unavailable |
| King County, WA | $163.36 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $158.07 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan, NY | $157.20 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $184.56 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $159.53 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $130.10 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $142.16 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $131.57 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $143.06 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $139.48 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $121.13 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Montana | $136.94 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $173.55 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $127.70 | Unavailable |
| Nevada | $136.89 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $141.41 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $127.86 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans, LA | $130.48 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $129.09 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota | $136.35 | Unavailable |
| Northern New Jersey | $156.43 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $160.49 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $127.22 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $124.75 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $157.60 | Unavailable |
| Portland, OR | $149.49 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $148.87 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $138.16 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $159.29 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $132.52 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $125.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $127.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $124.03 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maine | $127.61 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $138.44 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $143.06 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $127.34 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $121.48 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | $148.30 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $131.05 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Oregon | $136.20 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $127.71 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $131.14 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Washington | $142.95 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $140.98 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $147.97 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $155.58 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $155.02 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $188.58 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $159.14 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $184.53 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $152.44 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $188.44 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $161.04 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $155.73 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $162.71 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $128.29 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota | $136.28 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $135.57 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $140.91 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $126.30 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $130.13 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $173.50 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $135.33 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $138.16 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $134.75 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $158.27 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $122.72 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $131.55 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $136.68 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $147.63 | Unavailable |
88346 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$120.68
$168.11
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $155.79 | 1 |
| AL | $122.52 | 1 |
| AR | $120.68 | 1 |
| AZ | $133.33 | 1 |
| CA | $147.63–$188.58 | 29 |
| CO | $144.17 | 1 |
| CT | $146.25 | 1 |
| DC | $158.27 | 1 |
| DE | $135.62 | 1 |
| FL | $132.52–$143.06 | 3 |
| GA | $125.05–$139.01 | 2 |
| GU | $151.85 | 1 |
| HI | $151.85 | 1 |
| IA | $126.83 | 1 |
| ID | $127.46 | 1 |
| IL | $127.77–$140.91 | 4 |
| IN | $128.26 | 1 |
| KS | $125.70 | 1 |
| KY | $124.44 | 1 |
| LA | $124.03–$130.48 | 2 |
| MA | $143.06–$159.53 | 2 |
| MD | $138.44–$158.27 | 3 |
| ME | $127.61–$135.57 | 2 |
| MI | $127.34–$133.71 | 2 |
| MN | $139.48 | 1 |
| MO | $121.48–$131.57 | 3 |
| MS | $121.13 | 1 |
| MT | $136.94 | 1 |
| NC | $129.09 | 1 |
| ND | $136.35 | 1 |
| NE | $127.70 | 1 |
| NH | $141.41 | 1 |
| NJ | $148.30–$156.43 | 2 |
| NM | $127.86 | 1 |
| NV | $136.89 | 1 |
| NY | $131.05–$160.49 | 5 |
| OH | $127.22 | 1 |
| OK | $124.75 | 1 |
| OR | $136.20–$149.49 | 2 |
| PA | $127.71–$142.16 | 2 |
| PR | $138.16 | 1 |
| RI | $140.98 | 1 |
| SC | $128.29 | 1 |
| SD | $136.28 | 1 |
| TN | $126.30 | 1 |
| TX | $126.80–$143.37 | 8 |
| UT | $130.13 | 1 |
| VA | $134.75–$158.27 | 2 |
| VI | $138.16 | 1 |
| VT | $135.33 | 1 |
| WA | $142.95–$163.36 | 2 |
| WI | $131.55 | 1 |
| WV | $122.72 | 1 |
| WY | $136.68 | 1 |
How the 88346 rate is calculated
Each of 88346’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 · 88346
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.72
0.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.35
3.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.03
0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.1000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$136.94
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 88346
The CMS indicators that decide how 88346 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 88346
Immunofluorescence, initial antibody stain
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
88346 without 26 · national office
$136.94
Immunofluorescence, initial antibody stain
88346-26 · Professional component
$33.40
Pays only the interpretation and report.
88346 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 88342Antibody stainFirst single antibody per specimen
- 88346 is for immunofluorescence; 88342 is for the initial immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain procedure.
- 88350ImmunofluorescenceEach additional antibody stain
- 88346 represents the initial immunofluorescence stain for a specimen. 88350 represents each additional single-antibody immunofluorescence stain.
- 88341ImmunostainEach additional single antibody
- 88341 describes an additional immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain. For an additional immunofluorescence stain, the related code is 88350.
88346 billing questions
When should 88346 be selected instead of 88342?
Use 88346 for an immunofluorescence stain. Code 88342 describes an immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain, a different laboratory method.
How are additional immunofluorescence stains reported?
Report 88346 for the initial single-antibody stain on the specimen. Use 88350 for each additional single-antibody immunofluorescence stain when supported by the work performed.
Can the professional and technical work be billed separately?
Yes. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical work. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
What documentation supports reporting 88346?
Document the tissue specimen, the immunofluorescence stain performed, and the pathologist’s interpretation. The record should support that this is the initial stain for that specimen.
Is 88346 reported per slide or per specimen?
The code is per specimen. It represents the initial stain procedure for that specimen, rather than a separate unit for every slide prepared.
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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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