OB/GYN
81025 — Urine pregnancy test, by visual color comparison methods
This is a simple urine-based pregnancy test performed in a physician's office that gives a yes/no result based on detecting the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
- Typical setting: OB/GYN office, hospital labor & delivery
- National avg charge (illustrative): $15–$60 (simple waived laboratory test; very low cost)
- Most-disputed reason: Being billed a high laboratory fee for 81025 when this is a simple waived test (similar to a $10 drugstore test) — charges significantly above $60 warrant a review of the explanation of benefits.
What it means
What 81025 actually means
This is a simple urine-based pregnancy test performed in a physician's office that gives a yes/no result based on detecting the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). It is the same type of rapid test available over-the-counter but billed when performed as part of a clinical encounter.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Being billed a high laboratory fee for 81025 when this is a simple waived test (similar to a $10 drugstore test) — charges significantly above $60 warrant a review of the explanation of benefits.
- Billing 81025 in addition to a more expensive quantitative hCG blood test (84703) on the same date — if a blood test was already ordered, the urine test may be redundant and both charges may not be justified.
- Facility fees or specimen collection fees added to a simple urine pregnancy test that was collected in-office — verify that the total charge reflects only a waived in-office test, not a send-out laboratory fee.
If you see 81025 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 81025 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80053 — Comprehensive metabolic panel
If individual blood tests are also on your bill, you may have an unbundling error.
CPT
80055 — Obstetric panel; CBC w/diff, HBsAg, rubella Ab, syphilis, RBC Ab screen, ABO/Rh
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 81025 on a bill.
81025 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 81025 usually cost?
$15–$60 (simple waived laboratory test; very low cost). Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 81025?
Being billed a high laboratory fee for 81025 when this is a simple waived test (similar to a $10 drugstore test) — charges significantly above $60 warrant a review of the explanation of benefits.
What should I do if I see 81025 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 81025 before paying.
Don't pay 81025 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.