Skip to content
Dx

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

R84.5Abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax

✓ Billable / specific

R84.5 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Abnormal microbiolog findings in specmn from resp org/thrx

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About R84.5

R84.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax. It belongs to category R84 (abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax), block R83-R89 (abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, 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 R84 (abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax), R84.5 is specifically for abnormal microbiological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax. Related codes cover abnormal level of enzymes in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.0), abnormal level of hormones in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.1), abnormal level of other drugs, medicaments and biological substances in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.2), abnormal level of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.3), abnormal immunological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.4), abnormal cytological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.6), abnormal histological findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.7), other abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax (R84.8) and 1 more.

Don't report R84.5 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: colonization status (Z22.-).

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 792.9 (other nonspecific abnormal findings in body substances).

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Positive culture findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
Excludes1Not coded here — never report together with this code
  • colonization status (Z22.-)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to R84.5.

› From R84 Abnormal findings in specimens from respiratory organs and thorax
Includes
  • abnormal findings in bronchial washings
  • abnormal findings in nasal secretions
  • abnormal findings in pleural fluid
  • abnormal findings in sputum
  • abnormal findings in throat scrapings
Excludes1
  • blood-stained sputum (R04.2)

Broader instructions also apply from R83-R89 Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis and Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.

Alphabetic index entries

7 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to R84.5.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 23 · Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 792.9Other nonspecific abnormal findings in body substancesapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about R84.5

Is R84.5 billable?

Yes. R84.5 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can R84.5 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict R84.5 as a principal diagnosis.

Is R84.5 a CC or MCC?

No. R84.5 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does R84.5 group to?

R84.5 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 947 (Signs and Symptoms with MCC) and MS-DRG 948 (Signs and Symptoms without MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for R84.5?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map R84.5 to ICD-9-CM 792.9.