Alphabetic Index FY2027

Y64

Contaminated medical or biological substances

FY2027Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity/Y62–Y69 Misadventures to patients during surgical and medical care

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

Y64 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for contaminated medical or biological substances. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are Y64.0 Contaminated medical or biological substance, transfused or infused; Y64.1 Contaminated medical or biological substance, injected or used for immunization; Y64.8 Contaminated medical or biological substance administered by other means and Y64.9 Contaminated medical or biological substance administered by unspecified means. Its coding notes include 1 Excludes1 entry and 1 Excludes2 entry.

Guidelines tip

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

An external cause code is never a principal or first-listed diagnosis. Its 7th character is assigned for each encounter and should match the injury or condition code.

Guidelines I.C.20.a.2; I.C.20.a.6External cause codesRead the official text

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Y62–Y69 Misadventures to patients during surgical and medical care
  • surgical and medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure (Y83-Y84)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Y62–Y69 Misadventures to patients during surgical and medical care
  • breakdown or malfunctioning of medical device (during procedure) (after implantation) (ongoing use) (Y70-Y82)

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 20 External causes of morbidity
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

More specific codes under Y64 4