Encounter for blood-alcohol and blood-drug test

This code signifies a patient's visit specifically for the collection of blood samples to screen for the presence of alcohol and/or drugs. It indicates that the primary reason for the encounter is the laboratory testing itself, rather than the treatment of an injury or condition related to substance use. This often occurs in situations requiring objective evidence of substance levels.

This code is appropriate for encounters where a blood-alcohol and/or blood-drug test is performed for administrative, legal, or screening purposes, and no definitive diagnosis related to substance use disorder or intoxication has been established at the time of the encounter. Examples include pre-employment screening, court-ordered testing, or routine monitoring in certain programs.

• Do not use this code if the patient is presenting for treatment of alcohol or drug intoxication or abuse; in those cases, use codes for the specific substance-related disorder.
• This code is for the encounter for the test, not for the results of the test.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the sole reason for the encounter.