Z77.21 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to potentially hazardous body fluids

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applies from Z77 Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health

Includes

• contact with and (suspected) exposures to potential hazards to health

Excludes2 (not included here)

• contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases (Z20.-)
• exposure to (parental) (environmental) tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
• newborn affected by noxious substances transmitted via placenta or breast milk (P04.-)
• occupational exposure to risk factors (Z57.-)
• retained foreign body (Z18.-)
• retained foreign body fully removed (Z87.821)
• toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source (T51-T65)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 951 in MDC 23.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V15.89 Other specified personal history presenting hazards to health (approximate)

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unacceptable principal diagnosis: These codes describe a circumstance which influences care but is not a current illness or injury, or capture only an underlying condition, and are unacceptable as principal diagnosis.

Code annotations containing back-references to Z77.21

Back-references to Z77

• Type 2 Excludes: P04 Newborn affected by noxious substances transmitted via placenta or breast milk ("newborn in contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health not transmitted via placenta or breast milk (Z77.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z03 Encounter for medical observation for suspected diseases and conditions ruled out ("contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health (Z77.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z13.88 Encounter for screening for disorder due to exposure to contaminants ("those exposed to contaminants without suspected disorders (Z57.-, Z77.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z91 Personal risk factors, not elsewhere classified ("contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health (Z77.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z77.21

• Contact (with) › body fluids (potentially hazardous)
• Exposure (to) › body fluids (potentially hazardous)

Nearby codes

• Z77.121 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to harmful algae and algae toxins
• Z77.122 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to noise
• Z77.123 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to radon and other naturally occurring radiation
• Z77.128 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazards in the physical environment
• Z77.2 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous substances
• Z77.21 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to potentially hazardous body fluids (this code)
• Z77.22 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (acute) (chronic)
• Z77.29 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous substances
• Z77.3 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to war theater
• Z77.31 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to Gulf War theater
• Z77.39 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other war theater