2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R79.9Abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R70-R79›R79
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
R79.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified. 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 abnormal blood test. 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.
- Abnormal blood test
- Blood chemistry outside reference range
- Blood substance level above reference range
- Blood substance level below reference range
- Finding of vitamin B12 level
- Full blood count outside reference range
- Hematology test outside reference range
- Serum chloride level outside reference range
- Serum electrolyte levels - finding
- Vitamin B12 level below reference range
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities - See Also: Anomaly;
- chemistry, blood - R79.9
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
- chemistry, blood
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Blood
Your blood is made up of liquid and solids. The liquid part, called plasma, is made of water, salts, and protein. Over half of your blood is plasma. The solid part of your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert R79.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About R79.9Overview
Is R79.9 (Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does R79.9 group to?
When abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified 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 R79.9 be a principal diagnosis?
Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R79.9?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified 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.
