246Q00000X Pathology Specialist/Technologist

Definition

(1) An individual educated and trained in clinical chemistry, microbiology or other biological sciences; and in gathering data on the blood, tissues, and fluids in the human body. Tests and procedures performed or supervised center on major areas of hematology, microbiology, immunohematology, immunology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis. Education and certification requires the equivalent of an associate degree and alternative combinations of accredited training and experience. (2) A specially trained individual who works under the direction of a pathologist, other physician, or scientist, and performs specialized chemical, microscopic, and bacteriological tests of human blood, tissue, and fluids. Also known as medical technologists, they perform and supervise tests and procedures in clinical chemistry, immunology, serology, bacteriology, hematology, parasitology, mycology, urinalysis, and blood banking. The work requires the correlation of test results with other data, interpretation of test findings, and exercise of independent judgment. The minimum educational requirement (for one of several certification programs in medical technology) is a baccalaureate degree with appropriate science course requirements, plus a twelve-month, structured, AMA approved medical technology program and an examination; or a baccalaureate degree with appropriate science course requirements and experience.

— NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy, version 26.1

Where 246Q00000X sits

• Group: Technologists, Technicians & Other Technical Service Providers — code 40 of 65 in the group
• Classification: Specialist/Technologist, Pathology 246Q00000X

This is the general code for Specialist/Technologist, Pathology. 11 more specific codes sit beneath it; pick one of those when the provider's training or certification matches it, and this one otherwise. A provider may report more than one taxonomy code on an NPI but marks one as primary.

Medicare

246Q00000X has no entry in the CMS Medicare Provider and Supplier Taxonomy Crosswalk. That usually means Medicare does not enroll this kind of provider under its own specialty — the provider can still hold an NPI and use this code on claims to other payers.

Related codes

History of 246Q00000X

NUCC's notes record no dated changes for 246Q00000X. The code set is republished every January and July, when codes are added, retitled or marked inactive; this page reflects version 26.1, so check the NUCC site if you are reading it after the next release.

Similar codes in other groups

If 246Q00000X is not quite right, these codes in other groups share a word with it — often the same field practised by a different kind of provider:

• 207SM0001X Molecular Genetic Pathology (Medical Genetics) Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)
• 207ZP0101X Anatomic Pathology Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)
• 207ZP0102X Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)
• 207ZP0104X Chemical Pathology Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)
• 207ZC0006X Clinical Pathology Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)
• 207ZP0105X Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians)

Using 246Q00000X

The code goes in the taxonomy field of the NPI application in NPPES, and on claims where a payer asks for it — box 24J (shaded) or 33b on the CMS-1500 with the ZZ qualifier, or the PRV segment of an 837 electronic claim. Payers match it against the taxonomy on the NPI record and, for Medicare, against the specialty on the enrollment, so all three should agree. To see which code a provider uses, search their NPI in the lookup.

Sources: NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy code set, version 26.1 (CSV). Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.