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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesGuaiac Positive Stool

Guaiac Positive Stool

ICD-10 Coding for Guaiac Positive Stool(R19.5, K92.1)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYGastroenterology
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Guaiac Positive Stool?
Essential facts and insights about Guaiac Positive Stool

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Presence of blood in stool, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits
  • Guaiac test results indicating positive for occult blood
  • Abdominal tenderness, possible signs of anemia on physical exam

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history including symptoms and risk factors
  • Results of guaiac test and any follow-up diagnostic procedures
  • Clear indication of clinical rationale for testing

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Ensure correct use of R19.5 for general fecal abnormalities versus K92.2 for specific hemorrhage.
  • Common errors include misclassifying the cause of positive guaiac results.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Conditions such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures that may cause false positives
  • Alternative codes for specific causes of gastrointestinal bleeding

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
R19.5
Other fecal abnormalities
K92.2
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unspecified
Differential Codes
K92.1
K92.1
when there is visible or documented bleeding.
R19.5
R19.5
for occult blood without visible bleeding.

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Gastroenterology

Specialty Applications

  • Adults with gastrointestinal symptoms, patients with a history of GI disorders
  • Outpatient gastroenterology clinics, emergency departments

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document the reason for testing, results, and any follow-up actions.

Billing considerations?

Ensure proper coding to reflect the diagnosis and any related procedures.