Struggling with abnormal test result codes — anyone else find these confusing? — Forums

Jessica L.OP

May 27, 2026

Hey everyone, I'm about three weeks into studying for my ICD-10 certification and I keep hitting a wall with the abnormal findings section. Specifically, I can't seem to keep straight when to use codes for things like an abnormal stress test icd 10 scenario versus when the underlying condition already has its own code. My study group and I argued about this for like an hour last Tuesday and we still didn't fully agree.

The liver stuff is killing me too — the difference between an abnormal liver test icd 10 code and icd 10 code for elevated liver function test situations feels like it should be simple but the guidelines make it muddy. Like, R74.01 versus R79.89... I've been doing practice sets on the ICD 10 Practice Test and I'm scoring around 68%, which isn't where I need to be. My exam is in six weeks and I'm honestly a little nervous.

Anyone who's been through this — how did you get the abnormal findings logic to click? Did you just memorize or did something finally make it make sense conceptually?

Brian Y.

May 28, 2026

The abnormal findings section got me too. What helped me was focusing on the UOPD (underlying or other physician-documented) rule — if the physician documents the condition causing the abnormal result, you code that condition, not the abnormal finding. So for elevated liver function test icd 10 situations, R74.01 is really only your code when the cause hasn't been established yet. Once I reframed it that way, my accuracy on those questions jumped from like 65% to 82% in two weeks.

emily_w

May 28, 2026

The tb test icd 10 codes are another minefield that trips people up — Z11.1 for screening versus Z13.88 depending on context. Honestly I'd recommend drilling each abnormal finding category separately rather than mixing them together. I used the ICD 10 Coding Basics modules to isolate weak spots. Took me about 4 hours per chapter but my overall score went from 71% to 89% by test day. Six weeks is enough time if you're strategic.

Chris D.

May 28, 2026

68% at three weeks out is actually fine — don't panic. The abnormal liver function test icd 10 codes especially become muscle memory after enough reps. Just keep doing timed practice sets and review every wrong answer immediately. You'll get there.

Struggling with abnormal test result codes — anyone else find these confusing?

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