R79 vs R83
R79 (Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry) compared with R83 (Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. R83 carries an Excludes2 note covering R79: “abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| R79Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry | R83Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) |
| Definition | Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R79). | Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R83). |
| Use additional code | code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-) | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources