The accurate classification of diseases is crucial for global health tracking and data comparability. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO), serves this vital purpose. In the United States, a clinical modification of the ICD, known as ICD-CM, is developed by the U.S. government for classifying morbidity in various healthcare settings. Understanding the Diagnosis Code For Tb Skin Test within this system is essential for healthcare providers and public health officials.
ICD-CM codes play a significant role in enhancing data collection, particularly as healthcare systems expand testing and treatment for latent Tuberculosis (TB) infection. Differentiating between initial testing for latent TB and screening for active TB disease in medical records is critical. To address this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local TB programs and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), updated and introduced new ICD-CM codes between 2017 and 2018. These updates aim to improve the precision of clinical documentation related to both latent TB infection and active TB disease.
While not primarily designed for public health surveillance, ICD-CM codes are invaluable for monitoring the adoption of healthcare guidelines and recommendations. For example, they help measure the implementation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommendation to screen at-risk populations for latent TB infection. By utilizing these codes, healthcare providers contribute to a robust data ecosystem that supports evidence-based decision-making at patient and population levels and allows for tracking latent TB infection testing trends beyond traditional public health settings.
The 2020 ICD-10-CM release brought forth key updates pertinent to TB diagnosis coding. It’s important to note that while ICD-CM is based on the WHO’s ICD, it may include modifications tailored for clinical use in the U.S. Here are some specific ICD-10-CM codes relevant to TB skin testing and related scenarios:
Key ICD-10-CM Codes for TB Diagnosis:
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Z11.7: Encounter for testing for latent tuberculosis infection – This diagnosis code is specifically used when a patient presents for testing to determine if they have latent TB infection. This includes scenarios where a TB skin test, or other tests for latent TB, are administered.
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Z86.15: Personal history of latent tuberculosis infection – This code is used to document a patient’s past diagnosis of latent TB infection. It’s important for indicating individuals who have previously tested positive for TB infection but have been treated or are under monitoring.
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Z22.7: Carrier of latent tuberculosis – This code applies to individuals who have a positive test result for TB infection without any current evidence of active TB disease. It’s crucial to note that this code excludes nonspecific reactions to TB tests, which are coded separately. Specifically, it differentiates from:
- “Nonspecific reaction to cell-mediated immunity measurement of gamma interferon antigen response without active tuberculosis” (R76.12)
- “Nonspecific reaction to tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis” (R76.11)
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Z11.1: Encounter for screening for respiratory tuberculosis – This modified code now explicitly includes “Encounter for screening for active tuberculosis disease.” This expansion clarifies that this code is to be used when screening for active TB, distinguishing it from testing for latent infection.
By correctly applying these diagnosis codes for TB skin tests and related encounters, healthcare providers ensure accurate medical record-keeping, contribute to meaningful public health data, and ultimately improve patient care in the fight against tuberculosis.
