2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R78.71Abnormal lead level in blood
ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R70-R79›R78
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
R78.71 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal lead level in blood. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 947 through 948. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. Coders also document this condition as blood lead level above reference range. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abnormal findings without diagnosis.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Blood lead level above reference range
- High heavy metal level in blood
- Lead level above reference range
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Type 1 Excludes
- lead poisoning T56.0
A 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.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis - See Also: Abnormal;
- in blood (of substance not normally found in blood) - R78.9
- lead - R78.71
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis
- in blood (of substance not normally found in blood)
- lead
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Lead Poisoning
Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Lead can be found in all parts of our environment. Much of it comes from human activities such as mining and manufacturing. Lead used to be in paint; older houses may still have lead paint. You could be exposed to lead by:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert R78.71 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About R78.71Overview
Is R78.71 (Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormal lead level in blood on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does R78.71 group to?
When abnormal lead level in blood is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 947, 948, with relative weights from 0.8005 to 1.2694 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can R78.71 be a principal diagnosis?
Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal lead level in blood is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R78.71?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal lead level in blood converts to ICD-9-CM 790.6 (abn blood chemistry NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
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.
