Version 2024
No Valid Principal Dx

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R79

Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry

ICD-10-CM Code:
R79
ICD-10 Code for:
Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
    (R00–R99)
    • Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
      (R70-R79)
      • Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry
        (R79)

R79 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other abnormal findings of blood chemistry. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines this code should not to be used as a principal diagnosis code when a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Specific Coding Applicable to Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry

Non-specific codes like R79 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for other abnormal findings of blood chemistry:

  • Use R79.0 for Abnormal level of blood mineral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.1 for Abnormal coagulation profile - BILLABLE CODE

  • R79.8 for Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.81 for Abnormal blood-gas level - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.82 for Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.83 for Abnormal findings of blood amino-acid level - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.89 for Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R79.9 for Abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Use Additional Code

Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable Z18

Type 1 Excludes

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.
  • asymptomatic hyperuricemia E79.0
  • hyperglycemia NOS R73.9
  • hypoglycemia NOS E16.2
  • neonatal hypoglycemia P70.3 P70.4
  • specific findings indicating disorder of amino-acid metabolism E70 E72
  • specific findings indicating disorder of carbohydrate metabolism E73 E74
  • specific findings indicating disorder of lipid metabolism E75

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.