88346 is for immunofluorescence; 88342 is for the initial immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain procedure.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
88346 Immunofluorescence Medicare reimbursement rates
Reports the initial immunofluorescence antibody stain performed on a tissue specimen, such as a kidney or skin biopsy, for pathologic evaluation. Compare 88346 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 88346?
The service location and office or facility setting determine which base rate applies. These are the supported base rates for the 109 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$120.68–$188.58
109 of 109 localities have a supported rate.
Lowest: Arkansas
Highest: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
A spread of $67.90 per service.
Facility setting
No supported rate
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Where 88346 pays more and less
109 payment localities
$120.68 to $188.58
Surgical pathology
About 88346: Initial immunofluorescence antibody stain
Reports the initial immunofluorescence antibody stain performed on a tissue specimen, such as a kidney or skin biopsy, for pathologic evaluation.
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.
CMS billing rules for 88346
- Professional and technical components
- Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU0.72 · 18%
- Practice expense (office) RVU3.35 · 82%
- Malpractice RVU0.03 · 1%
60.9K
Medicare services in 2024 · #707 by national volume
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.
88346 compared with similar codes
Office rate ranges across all CMS payment localities, from the same CMS release.
88346 represents the initial immunofluorescence stain for a specimen. 88350 represents each additional single-antibody immunofluorescence stain.
88341 describes an additional immunohistochemical or immunocytochemical stain. For an additional immunofluorescence stain, the related code is 88350.
See how rates vary across the country
88346 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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 all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | 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 |
Compare 88346 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Office $122.52 | Facility Unavailable |
| Alaska* | Office $155.79 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arizona | Office $133.33 | Facility Unavailable |
| Arkansas | Office $120.68 | Facility Unavailable |
| Atlanta | Office $139.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| Austin | Office $143.37 | Facility Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | Office $147.75 | Facility Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | Office $145.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Beaumont | Office $126.80 | Facility Unavailable |
| Brazoria | Office $135.91 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chicago | Office $138.97 | Facility Unavailable |
| Chico | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Colorado | Office $144.17 | Facility Unavailable |
| Connecticut | Office $146.25 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dallas | Office $136.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Office $158.27 | Facility Unavailable |
| Delaware | Office $135.62 | Facility Unavailable |
| Detroit | Office $133.71 | Facility Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | Office $129.01 | Facility Unavailable |
| El Centro | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | Office $139.21 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | Office $135.46 | Facility Unavailable |
| Fresno | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Galveston | Office $136.18 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | Office $151.85 | Facility Unavailable |
| Houston | Office $136.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Idaho | Office $127.46 | Facility Unavailable |
| Indiana | Office $128.26 | Facility Unavailable |
| Iowa | Office $126.83 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kansas | Office $125.70 | Facility Unavailable |
| Kentucky | Office $124.44 | Facility Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | Office $158.07 | Facility Unavailable |
| Madera | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Manhattan | Office $157.20 | Facility Unavailable |
| Merced | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | Office $159.53 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Office $130.10 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | Office $142.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Office $131.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| Miami | Office $143.06 | Facility Unavailable |
| Minnesota | Office $139.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| Mississippi | Office $121.13 | Facility Unavailable |
| Modesto | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Montana** | Office $136.94 | Facility Unavailable |
| Napa | Office $173.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nebraska | Office $127.70 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nevada** | Office $136.89 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | Office $141.41 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Mexico | Office $127.86 | Facility Unavailable |
| New Orleans | Office $130.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Carolina | Office $129.09 | Facility Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | Office $136.35 | Facility Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | Office $156.43 | Facility Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | Office $160.49 | Facility Unavailable |
| Ohio | Office $127.22 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | Office $124.75 | Facility Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | Office $157.60 | Facility Unavailable |
| Portland | Office $149.49 | Facility Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | Office $148.87 | Facility Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | Office $138.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Queens | Office $159.29 | Facility Unavailable |
| Redding | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | Office $132.52 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | Office $125.05 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | Office $127.77 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | Office $124.03 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | Office $127.61 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | Office $138.44 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Office $143.06 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | Office $127.34 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | Office $121.48 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | Office $148.30 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | Office $131.05 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | Office $136.20 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | Office $127.71 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | Office $131.14 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | Office $142.95 | Facility Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | Office $140.98 | Facility Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Office $147.97 | Facility Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | Office $155.58 | Facility Unavailable |
| Salinas | Office $155.02 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Office $159.14 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | Office $184.56 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | Office $184.53 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | Office $188.58 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | Office $188.44 | Facility Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Office $152.44 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Office $161.04 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Office $155.73 | Facility Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | Office $162.71 | Facility Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Office $163.36 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Carolina | Office $128.29 | Facility Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | Office $136.28 | Facility Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | Office $135.57 | Facility Unavailable |
| Stockton | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | Office $140.91 | Facility Unavailable |
| Tennessee | Office $126.30 | Facility Unavailable |
| Utah | Office $130.13 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vallejo | Office $173.50 | Facility Unavailable |
| Vermont | Office $135.33 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | Office $138.16 | Facility Unavailable |
| Virginia | Office $134.75 | Facility Unavailable |
| Visalia | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
| West Virginia | Office $122.72 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | Office $131.55 | Facility Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | Office $136.68 | Facility Unavailable |
| Yuba City | Office $147.63 | Facility Unavailable |
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
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 indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
