2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R70-R79›R78

ICD-10-CM R78
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R78 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as R78.0, R78.1, R78.2, and R78.3. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R78
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
Short Description
Find of drugs and oth substnc, not normally found in blood
Chapter
R70-R79
Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR70-R79Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
CategoryR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
This CodeR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood

Specific Coding for Find of drugs and oth substnc, not normally found in bloodOverview

Non-specific codes like R78 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use R78.0 for Finding of alcohol in blood

  • Use R78.1 for Finding of opiate drug in blood

  • Use R78.2 for Finding of cocaine in blood

  • Use R78.3 for Finding of hallucinogen in blood

  • Use R78.4 for Finding of other drugs of addictive potential in blood

  • Use R78.5 for Finding of other psychotropic drug in blood

  • Use R78.6 for Finding of steroid agent in blood

  • R78.7 for Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood

  • Use R78.71 for Abnormal lead level in blood

  • Use R78.79 for Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood

  • R78.8 for Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood

  • Use R78.81 for Bacteremia

  • Use R78.89 for Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood

  • Use R78.9 for Finding of unspecified substance, not normally found in blood

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify the any retained foreign body, if applicable Z18

Type 2 Excludes

  • mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use F10 F19

Patient EducationClinical

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:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

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 R78Overview

Is R78 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood need a more specific code from this category, such as R78.0, R78.1, and R78.2.

Can R78 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.