2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z22Carrier of infectious disease

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z20-Z29›Z22

ICD-10-CM Z22
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z22 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for carrier of infectious disease, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as Z22.0, Z22.1, Z22.2, and Z22.31.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z22
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Carrier of infectious disease
Short Description
Carrier of infectious disease
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
Z20-Z29
Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ20-Z29Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases
CategoryZ22Carrier of infectious disease
This CodeZ22Carrier of infectious disease

Specific Coding for Carrier of infectious diseaseOverview

Non-specific codes like Z22 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use Z22.0 for Carrier of typhoid

  • Use Z22.1 for Carrier of other intestinal infectious diseases

  • Use Z22.2 for Carrier of diphtheria

  • Z22.3 for Carrier of other specified bacterial diseases

  • Use Z22.31 for Carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci

  • Z22.32 for Carrier of bacterial disease due to staphylococci

  • Z22.33 for Carrier of bacterial disease due to streptococci

  • Z22.34 for Carrier of Acinetobacter baumannii

  • Z22.35 for Carrier of Enterobacterales

  • Use Z22.39 for Carrier of other specified bacterial diseases

  • Use Z22.4 for Carrier of infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission

  • Use Z22.6 for Carrier of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 [HTLV-1] infection

  • Use Z22.7 for Latent tuberculosis

  • Use Z22.8 for Carrier of other infectious diseases

  • Use Z22.9 for Carrier of infectious disease, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z22: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 21. 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.

  • colonization status
  • suspected carrier

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.

  • carrier of viral hepatitis (B18.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 21 (Z00-Z99) Factors influencing health status and contact with health services applies to 1,425 codes
  • Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
  • (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
  • (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Z22, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 8

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming Z22: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • R82.7 Abnormal findings on microbiological examination of urine
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R83.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in cerebrospinal fluid
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R84.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R85.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R86.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from male genital organs
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R87.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from female genital organs
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • R89.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from other organs, systems and tissues
    colonization status (Z22.-)
  • Z20 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases
    carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z22: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and Z22 is one of the codes named.

  • O99.83 Other infection carrier state complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
    code to identify the carrier state (Z22.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Infectious Diseases

Germs, or microbes, are found everywhere - in the air, soil, and water. There are also germs on your skin and in your body. Many of them are harmless, and some can even be helpful. But some of them can make you sick. Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by germs.

The full article covers:

  • What are infectious diseases?
  • What are the different types of germs that cause infectious diseases?
  • How can you get infectious diseases?
  • What are the symptoms of infectious diseases?
  • What are the treatments for infectious diseases?
  • Can infectious diseases be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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 Z22Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for carrier of infectious disease?

Z22 is the ICD-10-CM category for carrier of infectious disease, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is Z22 (Carrier of infectious disease) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for carrier of infectious disease, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for carrier of infectious disease need a more specific code from this category, such as Z22.0, Z22.1, and Z22.2.