Blood alcohol level of less than 20 mg/100 ml

This code indicates a very low, often negligible, concentration of alcohol in the blood. A blood alcohol level (BAL) below 20 mg/100 ml is typically considered within the range of sobriety and is unlikely to cause any noticeable impairment. It may represent trace amounts of alcohol from various sources or a level well below legal intoxication limits.

This code is appropriate when a blood alcohol test is performed, and the result is specifically documented as less than 20 mg/100 ml. It is often used in situations where alcohol consumption is suspected but ruled out as a significant factor in the patient's presentation, or when a baseline alcohol level is being established.

• Only assign this code when the specific BAL of less than 20 mg/100 ml is documented.
• Do not use this code if the documentation simply states "negative" or "no alcohol detected" without a specific quantitative value.
• This code is typically a secondary diagnosis, used in conjunction with the primary reason for the encounter.