2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R85Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R83-R89›R85

ICD-10-CM R85
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R85 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as R85.0, R85.1, R85.2, and R85.3. 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
R85
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
Short Description
Abnormal findings in specimens from dgstv org/abd cav
Chapter
R83-R89
Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR83-R89Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis
CategoryR85Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
This CodeR85Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

Specific Coding for Abnormal findings in specimens from dgstv org/abd cavOverview

Non-specific codes like R85 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use R85.0 for Abnormal level of enzymes in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.1 for Abnormal level of hormones in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.2 for Abnormal level of other drugs, medicaments and biological substances in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.3 for Abnormal level of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.4 for Abnormal immunological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.5 for Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • R85.6 for Abnormal cytological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • R85.61 for Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

  • Use R85.69 for Abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.7 for Abnormal histological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • R85.8 for Other abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.81 for Anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive

  • Use R85.82 for Anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive

  • Use R85.89 for Other abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

  • Use R85.9 for Unspecified abnormal finding in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R85: its own notes plus those printed at block R83-R89 and Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • abnormal findings in peritoneal fluid
  • abnormal findings in saliva

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

On R85 itself
  • cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
  • fecal abnormalities (R19.5)
From Block R83-R89 Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis applies to 93 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block R83-R89 Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis applies to 93 codes
  • abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
  • abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
  • abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)
From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R85Overview

Is R85 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity need a more specific code from this category, such as R85.0, R85.1, and R85.2.

Can R85 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R85 be reported with R88.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on R85 lists "cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).