Home
Career Stage
Medical Students Residents Attendings CPT Codes Resources Blog Support

85651 Rbc sed rate nonautomated

Pathology & Lab

Also known as: ESR, sedimentation rate, sed rate

Red blood cell sedimentation rate non-automated test measures the distance red blood cells fall in an upright tube over one hour under gravity, assessing inflammation levels.

In Plain Language

Inflammation blood test; Settling test for swelling

Clinical Context

Used as a nonspecific marker of inflammation in infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and tissue injury. Elevated in many acute and chronic conditions.

RVU Information

CPT 85651 does not have a physician work RVU assigned by CMS. Reimbursement for this code is determined by payer-specific fee schedules.

Billing & Documentation

Lab and pathology codes require an order from the treating provider with clinical indication. For molecular pathology and genetic testing, document the specific analytes tested and clinical rationale.

How This Code Compares

This code has a work RVU of 0.00, meaning it does not have a physician work component assigned by CMS. In the Pathology & Lab category, 94% of codes share this characteristic.

Specialties

Clinical PathologyHematologyRheumatology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CPT code 85651?

CPT 85651 (Rbc sed rate nonautomated) is a Pathology & Lab code. Red blood cell sedimentation rate non-automated test measures the distance red blood cells fall in an upright tube over one hour under gravity, assessing inflammation levels.

Who uses CPT code 85651?

CPT 85651 is used by Clinical Pathology, Hematology, Rheumatology. Used as a nonspecific marker of inflammation in infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and tissue injury. Elevated in many acute and chronic conditions.

When is CPT 85651 used?

Used as a nonspecific marker of inflammation in infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and tissue injury. Elevated in many acute and chronic conditions.

Track This Code in RVU Edge

Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against national data — all in one app.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.