Effective November 7, 2022, Clinical Pathology Laboratories will provide computer-guided screening for all liquid-based pap tests. The Thinprep® Imaging System was FDA approved in June 2003, and the Becton-Dickinson FocalPoint™ GS Imaging System was FDA approved in December 2008. CPL has extensive experience with this technology dating from 2006 for Thinprep® and 2010 for FocalPoint™. With Dual Review technique, the Thinprep® Imaging System scans every cell in the Pap slide for prioritized screening by the cytologist. Dual Review is shown to provide increased sensitivity and specificity, as well as improved disease detection over manual review.1-3 The FocalPoint™ GS Imaging System comprises computerized Pap prescreening with a risk ranking method to focus cytologist review on cells and cases at increased risk for significant epithelial lesions. Use of this system increased sensitivity for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions without increasing equivocal diagnoses.

Both imaging technologies improve detection of small isolated dysplastic cells which may be missed by manual review alone. In addition, imaging technologies offer improved turn-around time and cytologist productivity to mitigate the impact of a shrinking workforce. Uniformly applying computer-assisted screening will benefit patients and their physicians, while streamlining laboratory workflow.

This transition will require a change in CPT codes. There may be an adjustment to laboratory charges. Please contact your account representative with any questions or concerns you may have.

8281 88142 PAP SMEAR, THINPREP® 8146 88175 PAP TEST, THINPREP®, IMAGED
8283 88142,
88155		 PAP TEST, THINPREP® WITH M.I. 8146 88175 PAP TEST, THINPREP®, IMAGED
8275 88142 PAP SMEAR, SUREPATH™ 8972 88175 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED
8279 88142,
88155		 PAP SMEAR, SUREPATH™ WITH M.I. 8972 88175 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED
8277 G0123 PAP TEST, MC 1 YR SUREPATH™ SCREEN 8972 G0123 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED
8276 G0123 PAP TEST, MC 2 YR SUREPATH™ SCREEN 8972 G0123 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED
8278 88142 PAP TEST, MC DIAGNOSTIC SUREPATH™ 8972 88175 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED
7885 88142
(possible 87624)		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™ REFLEX HPV HIGH RISK IF ASC-US 8035 88175
(possible 87624)		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™ IM REFLEX HPV HIGH RISK IF ASCUS
8052 88142,
87624		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™ AND HPV HIGH RISK WITH GENOTYPE 8059 88175,
87624		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™, IMAGED AND HPV HIGH RISK WITH GENOTYPE
8054 88142
(possible 87624)		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™ REFLEX HPV HIGH RISK IF ASC/LG 8060 88175
(possible 87624)		 PAP TEST, SUREPATH™ IM REFLEX HPV RISK IF ASC/LG
Unit Code CPT Code Test Name Crosswalked
Unit Code		 CPT Code Test Name

* For more information, please review test catalog at https://www.cpllabs.com/test-directory/ or contact your account executive.

 

References:

  1. Dziura B., et al. Performance of an imaging system vs. manual screening in the detection of squamous intra epithelial lesions of the uterine cervix. Acta Cytol. 2006;50(3):309-11.
  2. Lozano R., et al. Comparison of computer-assisted and manual screening of cervical cytology. Gynecol Oncol. 2007;104(1):134-8. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2006.07.025.
  3. Miller, F., et al. Implementation of the ThinPrep imaging system in a high-volume metropolitan laboratory. Diagn Cyto-pathol. 2007;35(4):213-7. doi:10.1002/dc.20627.
  4. Chivukula, M., et al. Introduction of the ThinPrep Imaging System (TIS): experience in a high volume academic prac-tice. CytoJournal. 2007;4:6. doi:10.1186/1742-6413-4-6.
  5. Ha, S., et al. Effectiveness of the ThinPrep imaging system in the detection of abnormal cervicovaginal cytology: a practical experience in Korea. Acta Cytol. 2013;57(2):159-63. doi: 10.1159/000345103.
  6. Wong R, Levi AW, Harigopal M, Schofield K, Chhieng DC. The positive impact of simultaneous implementation of the BD FocalPoint GS Imaging System and lean principles on the operation of gynecologic cytology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012;136(2):183-189.
  7. Wilbur DC, Black-Schaffer WS, Luff RD. The Becton Dickinson FocalPoint GS Imaging System: clinical trials demonstrate significantly improved sensitivity for the detection of important cervical lesions. Am J Clin Pathol. 2009;132(5):767-775.