2025 ICD-10-CM code R78.7
Presence of abnormal levels of heavy metals in the blood.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of signs, symptoms, or risk factors suggesting heavy metal toxicity, requiring blood testing for diagnosis and management. The documentation must support the clinical rationale for testing.
Clinicians are responsible for ordering appropriate tests, interpreting results, considering other diagnoses, and developing a treatment plan. This may involve consultations with specialists like toxicologists.
- 18 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
- R70-R79, Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
In simple words: Tests show higher than normal amounts of heavy metals like lead or mercury in your blood.
Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood. Use additional code to identify the any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-). Excludes2: mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19).
Example 1: A child living in an older house presents with developmental delays and abdominal pain. Blood tests reveal an elevated lead level, indicating lead poisoning (R78.71)., A worker in a battery factory experiences fatigue, tremors, and memory problems.Testing confirms elevated blood levels of cadmium, pointing to heavy metal toxicity (R78.79)., A patient with unexplained neurological symptoms undergoes heavy metal testing, revealing an elevated mercury level, potentially related to environmental exposure (R78.79).
Documentation should include the specific heavy metal detected (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium), the measured level in the blood, the method of testing, relevant patient history (e.g., occupational exposures, environmental factors), related symptoms, and treatment plan.
** It's crucial to differentiate between the finding of an abnormal level (R78.7) and the effects of poisoning or toxicity, which would be coded separately. This code indicates the laboratory finding only.Refer to iFrameAI product for the latest information and specific documentation guidelines as they can be complex.
- Specialties:Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Occupational Medicine, Toxicology
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic, Public Health Clinic