Code edition

CurrentApr 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026

R85.615CurrentBillable / specific

Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of anus

R83-R89 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

R85 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
fecal abnormalities (R19.5)

R85.61 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)
carcinoma in situ of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia I [AIN I] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia II [AIN II] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia III [AIN III] (D01.3)
dysplasia (mild) (moderate) of anus (histologically confirmed) (K62.82)
severe dysplasia of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)

Excludes 2 · 9

Chapters 18 · Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

R83-R89 · Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis (R83-R89)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)

R85.61 · Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

Excludes 2

anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.81)
anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.82)

Claims & coverage

Coverage depends on the payer, service and applicable policy. A billable code does not guarantee payment.

When ICD-10-CM is required

For US diagnosis claims covered by HIPAA, ICD-10-CM is required from October 1, 2015.

Use the service date for outpatient/professional claims and the discharge date for hospital inpatient claims. Earlier encounters use ICD-9-CM; each individual code must also be valid for the applicable date.

Official coding guidelines → · CMS ↗

MS-DRG · 43.1 · 393, 394, 395

Grouping depends on the complete encounter and CMS grouper logic.

393 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

2026-04-01 – 2026-09-30

CMS · MS-DRG 43.1

Check Medicare coverage ↗

First observed · 2015-10-01

Code history

No recorded change since first observation

ChangedUnchanged

FY2016

Effective from 2015-10-01

First observed

Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of anus

Billable diagnosis code

CDC/NCHS · FY2016

All editions (19)

All editions	Effective from	Code history
FY2016	2015-10-01	First observed
FY2017	2016-10-01	No tabular change
FY2018	2017-10-01	No tabular change
FY2019	2018-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020	2019-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020 · April	2020-04-01	No tabular change
FY2021	2020-10-01	No tabular change
FY2021 · 01-01	2021-01-01	No tabular change
FY2022	2021-10-01	No tabular change
FY2022 · 04-01	2022-04-01	No tabular change
FY2023	2022-10-01	No tabular change
FY2023 · 04-01	2023-04-01	No tabular change
FY2024	2023-10-01	No tabular change
FY2024 · 04-01	2024-04-01	No tabular change
FY2025	2024-10-01	No tabular change
FY2025 · 04-01	2025-04-01	No tabular change
FY2026	2025-10-01	No tabular change
FY2026 · April	2026-04-01	No tabular change
FY2027	2026-10-01	No tabular change

Historical ICD-9 mappings · 2018

Historical mapping only; not an automatic code substitution.

796.78

CDC/NCHS · GEM 2018

Code-level instructions

Includes

Inadequate sample of cytologic smear of anus

Inherited instructions

Chapters 18 · Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Note

This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
(a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
(b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
(c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
(d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
(e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
(f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

R83-R89 · Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis (R83-R89)

Excludes 1

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)

R85 · Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

Includes

abnormal findings in peritoneal fluid
abnormal findings in saliva

Excludes 1

cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
fecal abnormalities (R19.5)

R85.61 · Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

Excludes 1

abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)
carcinoma in situ of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia I [AIN I] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia II [AIN II] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia III [AIN III] (D01.3)
dysplasia (mild) (moderate) of anus (histologically confirmed) (K62.82)
severe dysplasia of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)

Excludes 2

anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.81)
anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.82)

Official index references (6)

Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities (4)

Inadequate, inadequacy (1)

Inadequate, inadequacy › sample of cytologic smear › anusDisease index

Unsatisfactory (1)

Unsatisfactory › sample of cytologic smear › anusDisease index

Related codes

Other entries in the same category; these are not automatic substitutes.

Code	Description	Category · further specificity required
R85.610	Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance on cytologic smear of anus (ASC-US)	Billable / specific
R85.611	Atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (ASC-H)	Billable / specific
R85.612	Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (LGSIL)	Billable / specific
R85.613	High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (HGSIL)	Billable / specific
R85.614	Cytologic evidence of malignancy on smear of anus	Billable / specific
R85.616	Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone	Billable / specific
R85.618	Other abnormal cytological findings on specimens from anus	Billable / specific
R85.619	Unspecified abnormal cytological findings in specimens from anus	Billable / specific

Official titles and instructions are preserved in their source language. Official sources ↗

R85.615CurrentBillable / specific

Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of anus

R83-R89 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

R85 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
fecal abnormalities (R19.5)

R85.61 · Inherited instructions

Excludes 1

abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)
carcinoma in situ of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia I [AIN I] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia II [AIN II] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia III [AIN III] (D01.3)
dysplasia (mild) (moderate) of anus (histologically confirmed) (K62.82)
severe dysplasia of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)

Excludes 2 · 9

Chapters 18 · Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

R83-R89 · Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis (R83-R89)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)

R85.61 · Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

Excludes 2

anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.81)
anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.82)

Claims & coverage

Coverage depends on the payer, service and applicable policy. A billable code does not guarantee payment.

When ICD-10-CM is required

For US diagnosis claims covered by HIPAA, ICD-10-CM is required from October 1, 2015.

Official coding guidelines → · CMS ↗

MS-DRG · 43.1 · 393, 394, 395

Grouping depends on the complete encounter and CMS grouper logic.

393 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395 · Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

2026-04-01 – 2026-09-30

CMS · MS-DRG 43.1

Check Medicare coverage ↗

First observed · 2015-10-01

Code history

No recorded change since first observation

ChangedUnchanged

FY2016

Effective from 2015-10-01

First observed

Unsatisfactory cytologic smear of anus

Billable diagnosis code

CDC/NCHS · FY2016

All editions (19)

All editions	Effective from	Code history
FY2016	2015-10-01	First observed
FY2017	2016-10-01	No tabular change
FY2018	2017-10-01	No tabular change
FY2019	2018-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020	2019-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020 · April	2020-04-01	No tabular change
FY2021	2020-10-01	No tabular change
FY2021 · 01-01	2021-01-01	No tabular change
FY2022	2021-10-01	No tabular change
FY2022 · 04-01	2022-04-01	No tabular change
FY2023	2022-10-01	No tabular change
FY2023 · 04-01	2023-04-01	No tabular change
FY2024	2023-10-01	No tabular change
FY2024 · 04-01	2024-04-01	No tabular change
FY2025	2024-10-01	No tabular change
FY2025 · 04-01	2025-04-01	No tabular change
FY2026	2025-10-01	No tabular change
FY2026 · April	2026-04-01	No tabular change
FY2027	2026-10-01	No tabular change

Historical ICD-9 mappings · 2018

Historical mapping only; not an automatic code substitution.

796.78

CDC/NCHS · GEM 2018

Code-level instructions

Includes

Inadequate sample of cytologic smear of anus

Inherited instructions

Chapters 18 · Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Note

This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
(a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
(b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
(c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
(d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
(e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
(f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

R83-R89 · Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis (R83-R89)

Excludes 1

abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

Excludes 2

abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)

R85 · Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity

Includes

abnormal findings in peritoneal fluid
abnormal findings in saliva

Excludes 1

cloudy peritoneal dialysis effluent (R88.0)
fecal abnormalities (R19.5)

R85.61 · Abnormal cytologic smear of anus

Excludes 1

abnormal cytological findings in specimens from other digestive organs and abdominal cavity (R85.69)
carcinoma in situ of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia I [AIN I] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia II [AIN II] (K62.82)
anal intraepithelial neoplasia III [AIN III] (D01.3)
dysplasia (mild) (moderate) of anus (histologically confirmed) (K62.82)
severe dysplasia of anus (histologically confirmed) (D01.3)

Excludes 2

anal high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.81)
anal low risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test positive (R85.82)

Official index references (6)

Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities (4)

Inadequate, inadequacy (1)

Inadequate, inadequacy › sample of cytologic smear › anusDisease index

Unsatisfactory (1)

Unsatisfactory › sample of cytologic smear › anusDisease index

Related codes

Other entries in the same category; these are not automatic substitutes.

Code	Description	Category · further specificity required
R85.610	Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance on cytologic smear of anus (ASC-US)	Billable / specific
R85.611	Atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (ASC-H)	Billable / specific
R85.612	Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (LGSIL)	Billable / specific
R85.613	High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on cytologic smear of anus (HGSIL)	Billable / specific
R85.614	Cytologic evidence of malignancy on smear of anus	Billable / specific
R85.616	Satisfactory anal smear but lacking transformation zone	Billable / specific
R85.618	Other abnormal cytological findings on specimens from anus	Billable / specific
R85.619	Unspecified abnormal cytological findings in specimens from anus	Billable / specific

Official titles and instructions are preserved in their source language. Official sources ↗