00576

Abnormal Flags

Definition: This field contains a table lookup indicating the normalcy status of the result. We strongly recommend sending this value when applicable. If the observation is an antimicrobial susceptibility, the interpretation codes are: S=susceptible; R=resistant; I=intermediate; MS=moderately susceptible; VS=very susceptible. (See ASTM 1238 - review for more details). Refer to HL7 table 0078 - Abnormal flags for valid entries.

When the laboratory can discern the normal status of a textual report, such as chest X-ray reports or microbiologic culture, these should be reported as N when normal and A when abnormal. Multiple codes, e.g., abnormal and worse, would be separated by a repeat delimiter, e.g., A~W.

Length≤5
19 values
No range defined, or normal ranges don't apply
<Below absolute low-off instrument scale
>Above absolute high-off instrument scale
AAbnormal (applies to non-numeric results)
AAVery abnormal (applies to non-numeric units, analagous to panic limits for numeric units)
BBetter--use when direction not relevant
DSignificant change down
HAbove high normal
HHAbove upper panic limits
IIntermediate (microbiology sensitivies only)
LBelow low normal
LLBelow lower panic limits
MSModerately sensitive (microbiology sensitivies only)
NNormal (applies to non-numeric results)
RResistant (microbiology sensitivies only)
SSensitive (microbiology sensitivies only)
USignificant change up
VSVery sensitive (microbiology sensitivies only)
WWorse--use when direction not relevant
IDCoded Value for HL7 tablesPrimitive