2021 ICD-10-CM Code R78
Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
Not Valid for Submission
R78 is a "header" nonspecific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood. The code is NOT valid for the year 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.
| ICD-10: | R78 |
| Short Description: | Find of drugs and oth substnc, not normally found in blood |
| Long Description: | Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood |
Code Classification
Specific Coding for Find of drugs and oth substnc, not normally found in blood
Header codes like R78 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10 codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for find of drugs and oth substnc, not normally found in blood:
- R78.0 - Finding of alcohol in blood
- R78.1 - Finding of opiate drug in blood
- R78.2 - Finding of cocaine in blood
- R78.3 - Finding of hallucinogen in blood
- R78.4 - Finding of other drugs of addictive potential in blood
- R78.5 - Finding of other psychotropic drug in blood
- R78.6 - Finding of steroid agent in blood
- R78.7 - Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood
- R78.71 - Abnormal lead level in blood
- R78.79 - Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood
- R78.8 - Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood
- R78.81 - Bacteremia
- R78.89 - Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood
- R78.9 - Finding of unspecified substance, not normally found in blood
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10 codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more. The following references are applicable to the code R78:
Use Additional Code
Use Additional CodeThe “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
- code to identify the any retained foreign body, if applicable Z18
Type 1 Excludes
Type 1 ExcludesA type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Information for Patients
Laboratory Tests
Laboratory tests check a sample of your blood, urine, or body tissues. A technician or your doctor analyzes the test samples to see if your results fall within the normal range. The tests use a range because what is normal differs from person to person. Many factors affect test results. These include
- Your sex, age and race
- What you eat and drink
- Medicines you take
- How well you followed pre-test instructions
Your doctor may also compare your results to results from previous tests. Laboratory tests are often part of a routine checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions, plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor diseases.
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Code History
- FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
- FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
- FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
- FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
- FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
- FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)