2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R85.5Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R83-R89›R85
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
R85.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) 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.
- Cryptosporidium isolated in stool by culture
- Feces: bacteria present
- Feces: parasite present
- Helicobacter CLO test observations
- Helicobacter pylori detected by rapid urease test
- Helicobacter pylori detected in stool
- Helicobacter pylori isolated in gastric fluid by organism specific culture
- Helicobacter pylori stool test finding
- Organism isolated in anal swab by culture
- Organism isolated in mouth swab by culture
- Organism isolated in stool by culture
- Ova present in feces
- Suppression of microbiota of gastrointestinal tract caused by antibiotic
- Vomit: ova present
- Vomit: parasite present
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R85.5: its own notes plus those printed at R85, 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
Applicable To
Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.
- Positive culture findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- colonization status (Z22.-)
- 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.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities See Also: Anomaly;
peritoneal fluid R85.5
saliva R85.5
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Convert R85.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About R85.5Overview
Is R85.5 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does R85.5 group to?
When abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 948, 947, with relative weights from 0.7833 to 1.2608 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can R85.5 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 digestive organs and abdominal cavity is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.
Can R85.5 be reported with a code from Z22?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on R85.5 lists "colonization status (Z22.-)". 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).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R85.5?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity converts to ICD-9-CM 792.4 (abn findings-saliva) and 792.9 (abn find-body subst NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
