R72 ICD-10-CA code: Abnormality of white blood cells, not elsewhere classified
R72 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Abnormality of white blood cells, not elsewhere classified” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.
Official description
R72Abnormality of white blood cells, not elsewhere classified
Short description: Abnormality of white blood cells NEC
ICD-10-CA · Canada
Index terms
Entries in CIHI’s alphabetical index that lead to R72. Searching the index by the condition the note names is how coders reach this code.
- Low, white blood cell count
- Elevated, elevation, leukocyte count
- Elevated, elevation, white blood cells NEC
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, white blood cells NEC
- Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, leukocyte (cell) (differential) NEC
Notes for R72
As CIHI prints them, with any note R72 takes from the headings above it.
Includes
- Abnormal leukocyte differential NOS
Excludes
Conditions classified elsewhere.
- Leukocytosis (D72.8)
- Abnormalities (of)(on):• antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)• coagulation (D65-D68)• lipids (E78.-)• platelets and thrombocytes (D69.-)• white blood cells classified elsewhere (D70-D72)diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Indexhaemorrhagic and haematological disorders of fetus and newborn (P50-P61)From R70-R79 Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
- Abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)From Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Note
- Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated "not otherwise specified", "unknown etiology" or "transient". The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories (R00-R99) consist of:(a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;(b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;(c) provisional diagnoses in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;(d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;(e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;(f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.From Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Where R72 sits
- 1ChapterChapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- 2Block R70-R79Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
- 3Valid code R72Abnormality of white blood cells, not elsewhere classified
Source and release
- Data release
- ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2026
- Publisher
- CIHI
This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.
Frequently asked questions
What does ICD-10-CA code R72 mean?
R72 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Abnormality of white blood cells, not elsewhere classified” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.
Where is R72 in ICD-10-CA?
R72 sits under R70-R79 Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis, within Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
What coding notes apply to R72?
ICD-10-CA lists Includes, Excludes, Note notes for R72, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.
Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?
It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.
Codes beside R72
View R70-R79R70Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and abnormality of plasma viscosityR71Abnormality of red blood cellsR73Elevated blood glucose levelR74Abnormal serum enzyme levelsR75Laboratory evidence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]R76Other abnormal immunological findings in serumR77Other abnormalities of plasma proteinsR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in bloodR79Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry