2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z22.2Carrier of diphtheria

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z20-Z29›Z22

ICD-10-CM Z22.2
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z22.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for carrier of diphtheria. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as diphtheria carrier. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Carrier status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z22.2
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Carrier of diphtheria
Short Description
Carrier of diphtheria
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z22
Carrier of infectious disease

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 CodeZ22.2Carrier of diphtheria

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z22.2.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z22.2 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Diphtheria carrier

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Carrier(suspected) of
      • bacterial disease NEC
        • diphtheria
    • Carrier(suspected) of
      • diphtheria
    • Diphtheria, diphtheritic(gangrenous) (hemorrhagic)
      • carrier (suspected)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC024
Carrier status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes. You can also get infected by coming in contact with an object, such as a toy, that has bacteria on it.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z22.2 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V02.4 Diphtheria carrier
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z22.2Overview

Is Z22.2 (Carrier of infectious disease) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report carrier of diphtheria on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z22.2 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because carrier of diphtheria describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z22.2 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for carrier of diphtheria on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z22.2?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, carrier of diphtheria converts to ICD-9-CM V02.4 (diphtheria carrier). The mapping is a direct match.