Abnormal findings in other body fluids and substances (R88)

The ICD-10 code R88 category is used to identify abnormal findings in various body fluids and substances that do not yet have a specific diagnosis. These codes help document unusual test results, often guiding further medical investigation.

More specifically, R88.0 is applied to cases with a cloudy (hemodialysis or peritoneal) dialysis effluent, which may indicate infection or other complications in dialysis patients. This code is also known as "cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent." Meanwhile, R88.8 covers a range of abnormal test results in other body fluids, including urea and electrolyte abnormalities, specific gravity deviations in pleural fluid, ascitic fluid chemistry outside normal limits, and abnormal amniotic fluid examinations. These terms, such as "urea level finding" or "pleural fluid specific gravity finding," help coders accurately assign R88.8 when lab findings are abnormal but a definitive diagnosis is not yet established. Using these codes correctly ensures clear documentation of abnormal lab observations in fluids related to kidney function, respiratory status, or pregnancy monitoring.