ICD-9 Code V26.31

Testing of female for genetic disease carrier status

Not Valid for Submission

V26.31 is a legacy non-billable code used to specify a medical diagnosis of testing of female for genetic disease carrier status. This code was replaced on September 30, 2015 by its ICD-10 equivalent.

ICD-9: V26.31
Short Description:Fem genetic test dis car
Long Description:Testing of female for genetic disease carrier status

Convert V26.31 to ICD-10

The following crosswalk between ICD-9 to ICD-10 is based based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMS) information:

  • Z31.430 - Encntr fem for test for genetc dis carrier stat for pro mgmt

Code Classification

  • Supplementary classification of factors influencing health status and contact with health services (E)
    • Persons encountering health services in circumstances related to reproduction and development (V20-V29)
      • V26 Procreative management

Information for Medical Professionals

Index to Diseases and Injuries

References found for the code V26.31 in the Index of Diseases and Injuries:


Information for Patients


Genetic Testing

What is genetic testing?

Genetic testing is a type of medical test that looks for changes in your DNA. DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid. It contains the genetic instructions in all living things. Genetic tests analyze your cells or tissue to look for any changes in:

  • Genes, which are parts of DNA that carry the information needed to make a protein
  • Chromosomes, which are thread-like structures in your cells. They contain DNA and proteins.
  • Proteins, which do most of the work in your cells. Testing can look for changes in the amount and activity level of proteins. If it finds changes, it might be due to changes in your DNA.

Why is genetic testing done?

Genetic testing may be done for many different reasons, including to:

  • Find genetic diseases in unborn babies. This is one type of prenatal testing.
  • Screen newborn babies for certain treatable conditions
  • Lower the risk of genetic diseases in embryos that were created using assisted reproductive technology
  • Find out if you carry a gene for a certain disease that could be passed on to your children. This is called carrier testing.
  • See whether you are at increased risk of developing a specific disease. This may be done for a disease that runs in your family.
  • Diagnose certain diseases
  • Identify genetic changes that may be causing or contributing to a disease that you were already diagnosed with
  • Figure out how severe a disease is
  • Help guide your doctor in deciding the best medicine and dosage for you. This is called pharmacogenomic testing.

How is genetic testing done?

Genetic tests are often done on a blood or cheek swab sample. But they may also be done on samples of hair, saliva, skin, amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy), or other tissue. The sample is sent to a laboratory. There, a lab technician will use one of several different techniques to look for genetic changes.

What are the benefits of genetic testing?

The benefits of genetic testing include:

  • Helping doctors make recommendations for treatment or monitoring
  • Giving you more information for making decisions about your health and your family's health:
    • If you find out that you are at risk for a certain disease, you might take steps to lower that risk. For example, you may find out that you should be screened for a disease earlier and more often. Or you might decide to make healthy lifestyle changes.
    • If you find out that you are not at risk for a certain disease, then you can skip unnecessary checkups or screenings
    • A test could give you information that helps you make decisions about having children
  • Identifying genetic disorders early in life so treatment can be started as soon as possible

What are the drawbacks of genetic testing?

The physical risks of the different types of genetic testing are small. But there can be emotional, social, or financial drawbacks:

  • Depending on the results, you may feel angry, depressed, anxious, or guilty. This can be especially true if you are diagnosed with a disease that does not have effective treatments.
  • You may be worried about genetic discrimination in employment or insurance
  • Genetic testing may give you limited information about a genetic disease. For example, it cannot tell you whether you will have symptoms, how severe a disease might be, or whether a disease will get worse over time.
  • Some genetic tests are expensive, and health insurance might only cover part of the cost. Or they may not cover it at all.

How do I decide whether to be tested?

The decision about whether to have genetic testing is complex. In addition to discussing the test with your health care provider, you can meet with a genetic counselor. Genetic counselors have specialized degrees and experience in genetics and counseling. They can help you understand the tests and weigh the risks and benefits. If you do get a test, they can explain the results and make sure that you have the support that you need.


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ICD-9 Footnotes

General Equivalence Map Definitions
The ICD-9 and ICD-10 GEMs are used to facilitate linking between the diagnosis codes in ICD-9-CM and the new ICD-10-CM code set. The GEMs are the raw material from which providers, health information vendors and payers can derive specific applied mappings to meet their needs.

  • Approximate Flag - The approximate flag is on, indicating that the relationship between the code in the source system and the code in the target system is an approximate equivalent.
  • No Map Flag - The no map flag indicates that a code in the source system is not linked to any code in the target system.
  • Combination Flag - The combination flag indicates that more than one code in the target system is required to satisfy the full equivalent meaning of a code in the source system.

Index of Diseases and Injuries Definitions

  • And - The word "and" should be interpreted to mean either "and" or "or" when it appears in a title.
  • Code also note - A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
  • Code first - Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
  • Type 1 Excludes Notes - 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.
  • Type 2 Excludes Notes - A type 2 Excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • Includes Notes - This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
  • Inclusion terms - List of terms is included under some codes. These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • NEC "Not elsewhere classifiable" - This abbreviation in the Alphabetic Index represents "other specified". When a specific code is not available for a condition, the Alphabetic Index directs the coder to the "other specified” code in the Tabular List.
  • NOS "Not otherwise specified" - This abbreviation is the equivalent of unspecified.
  • See - The "see" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index indicates that another term should be referenced. It is necessary to go to the main term referenced with the "see" note to locate the correct code.
  • See Also - A "see also" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index instructs that there is another main term that may also be referenced that may provide additional Alphabetic Index entries that may be useful. It is not necessary to follow the "see also" note when the original main term provides the necessary code.
  • 7th Characters - Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • With - The word "with" should be interpreted to mean "associated with" or "due to" when it appears in a code title, the Alphabetic Index, or an instructional note in the Tabular List. The word "with" in the Alphabetic Index is sequenced immediately following the main term, not in alphabetical order.