Autotransfusers and Red Blood Cell Genotyping (CPB 0639, reviewed 2025-12-11)
Summary
Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletin 0639 covers autotransfusers and cell saver devices, and red blood cell genotyping. Aetna considers autotransfusion medically necessary for emergency or intra-operative autotransfusion, hemodilution or cell washing autotransfusion, and post-operative autotransfusion (usually done within 2 hours with a chest tube collection device) that re-infuses blood after heart surgery and traumatic hemithorax, and considers it experimental, investigational or unproven for all other indications. Autotransfusion and cell saver devices are not considered medically necessary for procedures expected to require less than 2 units of blood. Red cell genotyping is medically necessary for individuals with sickle cell disease, thalassemia syndromes, hemoglobinopathies or other conditions requiring recurring transfusions, post-transfusion hemolysis with no detectable antibodies, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, multiple transfusions or a positive direct antiglobulin test, and in the other situations the policy lists, while hypoxic red blood cells are considered experimental for improving energy metabolism and post-transfusion recoveries.
Get alerts when payers change rules like this one
We check Aetna and other payers every day and email you when a change matches your specialty and state.