2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R85.616Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R83-R89›R85

ICD-10-CM R85.616
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R85.616 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 393 through 395. 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

ICD-10-CM Code
R85.616
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone
Short Description
Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R85.61
Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

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 CodeR85.616Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R85.616: its own notes plus those printed at R85.61, 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.

From R85 Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity applies to 21 codes
  • 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.

From R85.61 Abnormal cytologic smear of anus applies to 9 codes
  • abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)
  • carcinoma in situ of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
  • anal intraepithelial neoplasia I [AIN I] (K62.82)
  • anal intraepithelial neoplasia II [AIN II] (K62.82)
  • anal intraepithelial neoplasia III [AIN III] (D01.3)
  • dysplasia (mild) (moderate) of anus (histologically confirmed) (K62.82)
  • severe dysplasia of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
From R85 Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity applies to 21 codes
  • 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 R85.61 Abnormal cytologic smear of anus applies to 9 codes
  • anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.81)
  • anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.82)
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.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R85.616, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming R85.616: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K62.82 Dysplasia of anus
    abnormal results from anal cytologic examination without histologic confirmation (R85.61-) names R85.61-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM017
Abnormal findings without diagnosis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Convert R85.616 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
796.77 Sat anal smr-no trnsfrm
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 R85.616Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone?

The ICD-10-CM code for satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone is R85.616 (sometimes written as R85616). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R85.616 (Abnormal cytologic smear of anus) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R85.616 group to?

When satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 394, 395, 393, with relative weights from 0.6379 to 1.5877 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R85.616 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R85.616 be reported with R85.69?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at R85.61, which applies to R85.616, lists "abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)". 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).