Final answer:
The ICD-10-CM code that is reported for a patient who has had intercourse with someone diagnosed with HIV and is seeking testing is Z20.6.
A patient with a CD4 T cell count of 700/μL and no apparent illness is in Stage 1 of HIV infection. ICD codes are used in healthcare for a variety of reasons, including the facilitation of HIV testing. Hospitals test all potentially exposed patients to ensure early detection and treatment of HIV.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the HIV infection stage of a patient with a CD4 T cell count of 700/μL and no apparent illness, we can refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. According to the CDC, Stage 1 HIV infection, also known as primary or acute HIV infection, is characterized by a high viral load and a CD4 T cell count that is either at a normal level or has a slight decrease. Since the patient does not present any symptoms and has a CD4 count well above 500 cells/μL, the infection can be classified as Stage 1.
Hospitals use ICD (International Classification of Diseases) codes for various purposes including ordering lab tests, recording procedures, and calculating morbidity and mortality statistics. These codes are found in medical records, lab test orders, insurance claims, vital records, and epidemiological reports. In our case involving HIV testing, the ICD code helps healthcare professionals ensure that appropriate tests are conducted and treatments are administered.
Testing every patient for HIV is critical as early detection can significantly slow the progression of the disease and, therefore, the hospital aims to minimize the risk of false negatives and false positives by setting an appropriate testing schedule. Usual tests for HIV include indirect ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) followed by confirmatory tests such as Western blot or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) if the initial results are positive.