00603
Nature of Service/Test/Observation
2007-05-08
Definition: This field indicates whether the definition entry identifies a test battery, an entire functional procedure or study, a single test value (observation), multiple test batteries or functional procedures as an orderable unit (profile), or a single test value (observation) calculated from other independent observations. Refer to User-defined Table 0174 - Nature of service/test/observation for suggested values.
Codes P, F, and S identify sets (batteries) and should be associated with an OM5 segment that defines the list of elements. The definitions for the contained elements would have to be sent in other independent OMx segments, one for each contained element. In the ASTM context, most text reports - such as discharge summaries, admission H&Ps, and chest X-ray reports - are considered as sets, in which each section of the report (e.g., description, impression, and recommendation of an X-ray report) is considered a separate observation.
Length≤1
5 values
A | Atomic service/test/observation (test code or treatment code) |
C | Single observation calculated via a rule or formula from other independent observations (e.g., Alveolar--arterial ratio, cardiac output) |
F | Functional procedure that may consist of one or more interrelated measures (e.g., glucose tolerance test, creatinine clearance), usually done at different times and/or on different specimens |
P | Profile or battery consisting of many independent atomic observations (e.g., SMA12, electrolytes), usually done at one instrument on one specimen |
S | Superset--a set of batteries or procedures ordered under a single code unit but processed as separate batteries (e.g., routines = CBC, UA, electrolytes)<p>This set indicates that the code being described is used to order multiple service/test/observation |