Abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84) ICD-10-CM
The R84 code range covers abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax with 11 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 10 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- abnormal findings in bronchial washings
- abnormal findings in nasal secretions
- abnormal findings in pleural fluid
- abnormal findings in sputum
- abnormal findings in throat scrapings
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- blood-stained sputum R04.2
Codes in the R84 Range 11 codes · 10 billable
- R84 Abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thoraxNon-billable
- R84.0 Abnormal level of enzymes in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.1 Abnormal level of hormones in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.2 Abnormal level of other drugs, medicaments and biological substances in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.3 Abnormal level of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.4 Abnormal immunological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.5 Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.6 Abnormal cytological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.7 Abnormal histological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.8 Other abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
- R84.9 Unspecified abnormal finding in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
About the R84 Code Range
The ICD-10 code R84 covers abnormal findings in specimens taken from the respiratory organs and thorax. These codes are used when tests detect unusual results in samples like sputum, pleural fluid, or tissue from the lungs and chest area, without confirming a specific diagnosis.
This section includes codes for abnormal levels of enzymes (R84.0), hormones (R84.1), drugs or biological substances (R84.2), and nonmedicinal substances (R84.3) found in respiratory specimens. It also classifies abnormal immunological (R84.4), microbiological (R84.5), cytological (R84.6), and histological (R84.7) findings. For example, if a sputum sample shows isolated bacteria like Pseudomonas or abnormal cells seen on cytology, these are coded here. Other atypical specimen results, including abnormal pleural fluid appearances or unspecified abnormal respiratory lab results, fall under R84.8 and R84.9. These codes assist medical coders and healthcare professionals in documenting abnormal test results related specifically to respiratory system specimens, even when no clear diagnosis has been established.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the R84 range?
Of the 11 codes in this range, 10 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the R84 range classify?
The range classifies abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
