R79.9Abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified

R79.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified. It belongs to category R79 (other abnormal findings of blood chemistry), 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 billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within R79, choose R79.9 (Abnormal finding of blood chemistry, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: abnormal level of blood mineral (R79.0), abnormal coagulation profile (R79.1) and other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry (R79.8).

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

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC, relative weight 1.261) and DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms without MCC, relative weight 0.7835), in MDC 23 (Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

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

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 790.6 (other abnormal blood chemistry).