ICD-10-CM Code For Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Status: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group Z21 includes codes for persons with a confirmed human immunodeficiency virus infection who are asymptomatic and have no HIV-related illness. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document infection status, monitor care needs, and capture clinical complexity related to infectious disease management. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM Z21 group supports proper claim adjudication and complete clinical documentation.

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ICD-10-CM Z21: Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] Infection Status Overview

The diagnoses in this group indicate a documented human immunodeficiency virus infection in persons who have no signs or symptoms of an HIV-related illness. These codes target infectious disease surveillance and care coordination for the immune system and related conditions. Accurate coding matters for appropriate claim adjudication and ensuring clinical records reflect infection status for public health and care management.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient has a confirmed human immunodeficiency virus infection but does not exhibit signs or symptoms of HIV-related disease. These codes are appropriate for documenting infection status during visits focused on testing, surveillance, counseling, or routine follow-up without active HIV-related complications.

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
Z21	Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection status

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
865	Viral Illness with MCC
866	Viral Illness without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 28-year-old pregnant woman presents for initial prenatal care with no signs or symptoms of infection; routine antenatal screening returns a positive HIV antigen/antibody test but she is asymptomatic and has no opportunistic infections. The visit is for counseling, baseline labs, and initiation of obstetric care while documenting her infection status for care coordination, so a code from this group is assigned to indicate asymptomatic HIV infection. Typical codes: Z21
A 42-year-old individual comes to a public health clinic for routine follow-up after a previously diagnosed HIV positive test; they feel well, report no HIV-related symptoms, and have not required antiretroviral therapy at this time. The encounter is for surveillance, prevention counseling, and periodic laboratory monitoring, and the asymptomatic status is recorded using a code from this group. Typical codes: Z21
A 55-year-old patient is admitted to hospital for an unrelated elective orthopedic surgery and preoperative screening reveals a known HIV-positive status without clinical signs of immunodeficiency or opportunistic infection. The surgical team documents the patient’s asymptomatic HIV infection to guide perioperative infection control and medication reconciliation, so a code from this group is used on the record. Typical codes: Z21

Related Codes

Z20-CONTACT-WITH-SUSPECTED-EXPOSURE

ICD-10-CM Code For Contact With And (Suspected) Exposure To Communicable Diseases: Group Overview

Z22-CARRIER-OF-INFECTIOUS-DISEASE

ICD-10-CM Code For Carrier Of Infectious Disease: Group Overview

Z23-ENCOUNTER-FOR-IMMUNIZATION

ICD-10-CM Code For Encounter For Immunization: Group Overview

Z28-IMMUNIZATION-NOT-CARRIED-OUT

ICD-10-CM Code For Immunization Not Carried Out And Underimmunization Status: Group Overview

Z29-ENCOUNTER-FOR-PROPHYLACTIC-MEASURES

ICD-10-CM Code For Encounter For Other Prophylactic Measures: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
Z21	Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection status

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
865	Viral Illness with MCC
866	Viral Illness without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 28-year-old pregnant woman presents for initial prenatal care with no signs or symptoms of infection; routine antenatal screening returns a positive HIV antigen/antibody test but she is asymptomatic and has no opportunistic infections. The visit is for counseling, baseline labs, and initiation of obstetric care while documenting her infection status for care coordination, so a code from this group is assigned to indicate asymptomatic HIV infection. Typical codes: Z21
A 42-year-old individual comes to a public health clinic for routine follow-up after a previously diagnosed HIV positive test; they feel well, report no HIV-related symptoms, and have not required antiretroviral therapy at this time. The encounter is for surveillance, prevention counseling, and periodic laboratory monitoring, and the asymptomatic status is recorded using a code from this group. Typical codes: Z21
A 55-year-old patient is admitted to hospital for an unrelated elective orthopedic surgery and preoperative screening reveals a known HIV-positive status without clinical signs of immunodeficiency or opportunistic infection. The surgical team documents the patient’s asymptomatic HIV infection to guide perioperative infection control and medication reconciliation, so a code from this group is used on the record. Typical codes: Z21

Related Codes

Z20-CONTACT-WITH-SUSPECTED-EXPOSURE

ICD-10-CM Code For Contact With And (Suspected) Exposure To Communicable Diseases: Group Overview

Z22-CARRIER-OF-INFECTIOUS-DISEASE

ICD-10-CM Code For Carrier Of Infectious Disease: Group Overview

Z23-ENCOUNTER-FOR-IMMUNIZATION

ICD-10-CM Code For Encounter For Immunization: Group Overview

Z28-IMMUNIZATION-NOT-CARRIED-OUT

ICD-10-CM Code For Immunization Not Carried Out And Underimmunization Status: Group Overview

Z29-ENCOUNTER-FOR-PROPHYLACTIC-MEASURES

ICD-10-CM Code For Encounter For Other Prophylactic Measures: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Status: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Status: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM Z21: Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] Infection Status Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Status: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Status: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM Z21: Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] Infection Status Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM code represents asymptomatic HIV infection status?

What is the purpose of using `Z21` in clinical documentation?

How does coding with `Z21` affect reimbursement and billing processes?

Are there related DRGs tied to the `Z21` code group?

What patient population is indicated by the diagnoses in the ICD-10-CM Z21 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM code represents asymptomatic HIV infection status?

What is the purpose of using `Z21` in clinical documentation?

How does coding with `Z21` affect reimbursement and billing processes?

Are there related DRGs tied to the `Z21` code group?

What patient population is indicated by the diagnoses in the ICD-10-CM Z21 group?

References