# CPT 84550

> Not at a published national rate. CPT 84550 carries status X (statutory exclusion) in the Q3 2018 release. The statutory definition of physician services does not include this item. Treat the blank amount as unpriced, not as $0.

## What it is

Measures uric acid in blood, the waste product left over when the body breaks down purines from its own cells and from certain foods. When levels stay high, uric acid can crystallise into needle-shaped deposits in joints - the mechanism behind gout - and can also seed kidney stones. This code covers the blood measurement; uric acid measured in urine is reported separately.

## Selected release

- Release: Q3 2018 (2018 C)
- Effective: July 1 – September 30, 2018
- Status indicator: X
- Office (non-facility) national allowed amount: not published
- Facility national allowed amount: not published
- Sequestration: not applied

## RVUs and formula

- Work RVU: not published
- Office (non-facility) practice expense RVU: not published
- Facility practice expense RVU: not published
- Malpractice RVU: not published
- Conversion factor: 35.9996
- Formula: `(work_rvu × work_gpci + pe_rvu × pe_gpci + mp_rvu × mp_gpci) × conversion_factor`

## Source and citation

- Source: Physician relative value file (Q3 2018)
- CMS file: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicare-fee-for-service-payment/physicianfeesched/downloads/rvu18c1.zip
- Parsed file: PPRRVU18_JUL.csv, row 14,140
- Canonical page: https://localishealth.com/cpt/84550/2014/B
- Release-specific citation URL: https://localishealth.com/cpt/84550/2018/C
- Last significant update: 2026-08-04T03:08:27+00:00