2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R84.5Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R83-R89›R84
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
R84.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax. 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. 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.
- Acid-fast bacilli in sputum
- Aspergillus isolated in sputum by culture
- Breath test finding
- Extended beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolated in sputum by culture
- Helicobacter detected by breath test
- Helicobacter pylori breath test finding
- Human respiratory syncytial virus isolated in sputum by culture
- Inconclusive evaluation finding
- Influenza A virus inconclusive
- Influenza A virus not detected
- Influenza A virus subtype H1 2009 pandemic strain inconclusive
- Influenza A virus subtype H1 2009 pandemic strain not detected
- Influenza A virus subtype H1 not detected
- Influenza A virus subtype H5 inconclusive
- Organism isolated in sputum by microbial culture
- Organism isolated in throat swab by culture
- Organism isolated on nose swab by culture
- Pseudomonas isolated in sputum by culture
- Sputum evidence of infection
- Sputum examination: abnormal
- Sputum: eosinophilia
- Sputum: tubercle on Z-N stain
- Virus inconclusive
- Virus not detected
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Positive culture findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
Type 1 Excludes
- colonization status Z22
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
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.
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities - See Also: Anomaly;
- Positive
- bronchial washings - R84.5
- nasal secretions - R84.5
- nose - R84.5
- pleural fluid - R84.5
- sputum - R84.5
- throat scrapings - R84.5
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
- specimen
- respiratory organs (bronchial washings) (nasal secretions) (pleural fluid) (sputum)
- microbiology
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- bronchial washings
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- nasal secretions
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- nose
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- pleural fluid
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- sputum
- Positive
- culture (nonspecific)
- throat scrapings
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Convert R84.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About R84.5Overview
Is R84.5 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does R84.5 group to?
When abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax 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 R84.5 be a principal diagnosis?
Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R84.5?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax converts to ICD-9-CM 792.9 (abn find-body subst 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.
