2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R09.3Abnormal sputum

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R00-R09›R09

ICD-10-CM R09.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R09.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal sputum. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Respiratory signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R09.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Abnormal sputum
Short Description
Abnormal sputum
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R09
Other symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory system

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR00-R09Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems
CategoryR09Other symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory system
This CodeR09.3Abnormal sputum

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abnormal sputum
  • Brown sputum
  • Color of sputum - finding
  • Consistency of sputum - finding
  • Copious sputum
  • Creamy sputum
  • Dirty sputum
  • Expectoration of currant jelly sputum
  • Finding of odor of sputum
  • Finding related to ability to cough up sputum
  • Foul smelling sputum
  • Frothy sputum
  • Gray sputum
  • Green sputum
  • Mucoid sputum
  • Mucopurulent discharge from nose
  • Mucopurulent sputum
  • Pluggy sputum
  • Productive cough
  • Productive cough -green sputum
  • Productive cough-yellow sputum
  • Profuse watery sputum
  • Purulent nasal discharge
  • Purulent sputum
  • Rusty sputum
  • Scanty sputum
  • Sputum abnormal - amount
  • Sputum abnormal - color
  • Sputum abnormal - odor
  • Sputum examination: abnormal
  • Sputum retention
  • Sputum: asbestos bodies
  • Sputum: blood cells present
  • Sputum: excessive - mucoid
  • Sputum: pus cells present
  • Stringy sputum
  • Sweet smelling sputum
  • Thick sputum
  • Thin sputum
  • Volume of sputum - finding
  • Watery sputum
  • White sputum
  • Yellow sputum

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Abnormal amount of sputum
  • Abnormal color of sputum
  • Abnormal odor of sputum
  • Excessive sputum

Type 1 Excludes

  • blood-stained sputum R04.2

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • sputum (amount) (color) (odor)
    • Excess, excessive, excessively
      • secretion
        • sputum
    • Excess, excessive, excessively
      • sputum
    • Sputum
      • abnormal (amount) (color) (odor) (purulent)
    • Sputum
      • excessive (cause unknown)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM013
Respiratory signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Bronchial Disorders

When you breathe in, the air travels down through your trachea (windpipe). It then goes through two tubes to your lungs. These tubes are your bronchi. Bronchial disorders can make it hard for you to breathe.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert R09.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
786.4 Abnormal sputum
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R09.3Overview

Is R09.3 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormal sputum on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can R09.3 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal sputum is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R09.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal sputum converts to ICD-9-CM 786.4 (abnormal sputum). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.