R79 — Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry
Is R79 billable?
No — R79 is a non-billable header code. R79 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 7 billable codes beneath R79.
Billable codes under this header
R79 at a glance
| Code | R79 |
|---|---|
| Description | Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with R79 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- asymptomatic hyperuricemia (E79.0)
- 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.-)
Use additional code
Report an additional code alongside R79 to fully describe the condition. R79 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of R79, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R79 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- hyperglycemia NOS (R73.9)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R79, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R79 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from R70-R79
The conditions below are not part of R79, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R79 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
- abnormalities of lipids (E78.-)
- abnormalities of platelets and thrombocytes (D69.-)
- abnormalities of white blood cells classified elsewhere (D70-D72)
- coagulation hemorrhagic disorders (D65-D68)
- diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index
- hemorrhagic and hematological disorders of newborn (P50-P61)
What codes fall under R79? (4)
How long has R79 existed?
R79 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
Which codes are confused with R79?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with R79 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.