Point Versus Interval

Definition: This optional attribute allows master files to classify observations as measuring the patient's state at a point in time (e.g., spot urines, random urines, serum potassium), or averaged over a interval of time (e.g., concentration, total amount, or clearance over a 24-hour collection). Interval measures most often apply to urine and stool specimens (e.g., 24-hour urines, 3-day stool fats). They also apply to clinical measurements such as urine outputs, which are reported as shift totals and 24-hour totals, and event counts on physiologic monitors such as the number of PVCs on a 24-hour Holter monitor.