MDS FISH

Medicare covers MDS-directed FISH probes for patients with a bone marrow examination suggestive of myelodysplastic syndrome when conventional karyotyping is inadequate (e.g., <20 metaphases) or the karyotype is unresolved. Coverage is limited to four initial probes (-7/del(7q), -5/del(5q), +8, del(20q)), with additional reflex testing permitted only if those initial probes are negative or the diagnosis remains uncertain; generally, FISH is not reasonable when a complete conventional karyotype is available.

"Cover FISH probes for patients whose bone marrow examination is suggestive of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and who have an inadequate cytogenetic assessment by conventional karyotyping."

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