February 18, 2021

Question:
Our orthopaedic sports medicine physician recently injected blood at a tendon insertion site for treatment of tendonitis. The staff drew the blood from the antecubital fossa and gave the syringe to the surgeon. The surgeon said it is not “PRP” as he did not centrifuge the blood and create a concentrate of platelets. We are unsure what CPT code to report.

Answer:
There is not CPT code for the injection of blood as described in your inquiry. KZA recommends an unlisted code. You may consider comparing the unlisted code to 20551 and 36415.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 02/18/21.