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ICD-10 Code R65.20: Severe sepsis without septic shock

R65.20 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Severe sepsis without septic shock in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents severe sepsis without septic shock in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter
18Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
block
R50-R69General symptoms and signs
category
R65Symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection
category
R65.2Severe sepsis
currentR65.2

Official coding notes

Inclusion terms
  • Severe sepsis NOS

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

General Physician

Coverage-related procedures and services

CPT 87154high
CULTURE, TYPING; IDENTIFICATION OF BLOOD PATHOGEN AND RESISTANCE TYPING, WHEN PERFORMED, BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA) PROBE, MULTIPLEXED AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE INCLUDING MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, PER CULTURE OR ISOLATE, 6 OR MORE TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87801high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA), MULTIPLE ORGANISMS; AMPLIFIED PROBE(S) TECHNIQUE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87483high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM PATHOGEN (EG, NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS, STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE, LISTERIA, HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE, E. COLI, STREPTOCOCCUS AGALACTIAE, ENTEROVIRUS, HUMAN PARECHOVIRUS, HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 AND 2, HUMAN HERPESVIRUS 6, CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS, CRYPTOCOCCUS), INCLUDES MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, AND MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE, MULTIPLE TYPES OR SUBTYPES, 12-25 TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87505high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOGEN (EG, CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, E. COLI, SALMONELLA, SHIGELLA, NOROVIRUS, GIARDIA), INCLUDES MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, AND MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE, MULTIPLE TYPES OR SUBTYPES, 3-5 TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87631high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); RESPIRATORY VIRUS (EG, ADENOVIRUS, INFLUENZA VIRUS, CORONAVIRUS, METAPNEUMOVIRUS, PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, RHINOVIRUS), INCLUDES MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, AND MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE, MULTIPLE TYPES OR SUBTYPES, 3-5 TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87636high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2) (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE [COVID-19]) AND INFLUENZA VIRUS TYPES A AND B, MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE
Source: CMS coverage guidance

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Severe sepsis without septic shock

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeR65.20
SystemICD10
Display nameSevere sepsis without septic shock
ChapterSymptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
BlockGeneral symptoms and signs

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)Sepsis(generalized) (unspecified organism)Sepsis(generalized) (unspecified organism)Severe sepsis

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.

ICD-10 Code R65.20 for Severe sepsis without septic shock | HealthAssure