R78.8Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood

R78.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood. It belongs to category R78 (findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood), block R70-R79 (abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis) and chapter 18 (symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 2 subcodes must be used instead.

Within R78, choose R78.8 (other specified substances, not normally found in blood) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: alcohol in blood (R78.0), opiate drug in blood (R78.1), cocaine in blood (R78.2), hallucinogen in blood (R78.3), other drugs of addictive potential in blood (R78.4), other psychotropic drug in blood (R78.5), steroid agent in blood (R78.6), abnormal level of heavy metals in blood (R78.7) and 1 more.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: R78.81 (Bacteremia) and R78.89 (blood).

Use an additional code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.