R78.0 Finding of alcohol in blood

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Use additional code

• external cause code (Y90.-), for detail regarding alcohol level.

Applies from R78 Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood

Excludes2 (not included here)

• mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19)

Use additional code

• code to identify the any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 894-897 in MDC 20.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 790.3 Excessive blood level of alcohol (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to R78.0

Back-references to R78

• Use Additional: Z02.83 Encounter for blood-alcohol and blood-drug test ("code for findings of alcohol or drugs in blood (R78.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for R78.0

• Excess, excessive, excessively › alcohol level in blood
• Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis › alcohol in blood
• Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis › in blood (of substance not normally found in blood) › alcohol (excessive level)

Nearby codes

• R78 Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
• R78.0 Finding of alcohol in blood (this code)
• R78.1 Finding of opiate drug in blood
• R78.2 Finding of cocaine in blood
• R78.3 Finding of hallucinogen in blood
• R78.4 Finding of other drugs of addictive potential in blood
• R78.5 Finding of other psychotropic drug in blood