HL7 v2.8.1 Vocabulary
0.2.0 - ci-build

HL7 v2.8.1 Vocabulary, published by HL7/FO. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.2.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/frankoemig/hl7.v2.terminology.v281/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

## ValueSet: Interpretation Codes (2.8.1 - 2.1.0) (Experimental)

Official URL: http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/ValueSet/hl7VSinterpretationCode | Version: 2.1.0
Active as of 2026-03-13 | Computable Name: Hl7VSinterpretationCode
Other Identifiers: OID:2.16.840.1.113883.1.11.78, urn:ietf:rfc:3986#Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)#http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/ValueSet/v2-0078
Copyright/Legal: HL7 Inc., 2026

A categorical assessment, providing a rough qualitative interpretation of the observation value, such as “normal”/ “abnormal”,”low” / “high”, “better” / “worse”, “susceptible” / “resistant”, “expected”/ “not expected”. The value set is intended to be for ANY use where coded representation of an interpretation is needed. Notes: This is being communicated in v2.x in OBX-8, in v3 in ObservationInterpretation (CWE) in R1 (Representative Realm) and in FHIR Observation.interpretation. Historically these values come from the laboratory domain, and these codes are extensively used. The value set binding is extensible, so codes outside the value set that are needed for interpretation concepts (i.e. particular meanings) that are not included in the value set can be used, and these new codes may also be added to the value set and published in a future version.

References

This value set is not used here; it may be used elsewhere (e.g. specifications and/or implementations that use this content)

### Logical Definition (CLD)

- Include all codes defined in `http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` version 📍2.1.0

### Expansion

Expansion performed internally based on codesystem Interpretation Codes (2.8.1 - 2.1.0) v2.1.0 (CodeSystem)

This value set contains 32 concepts

System | Code | Display (en) | Definition | JSON | XML
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | < | Below absolute low-off instrument scale | Below absolute low-off instrument scale |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | > | Above absolute high-off instrument scale | Above absolute high-off instrument scale |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | A | Abnormal (applies to non-numeric results) | Abnormal (applies to non-numeric results) |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | AA | Very abnormal | Very abnormal (applies to non-numeric units, analogous to panic limits for numeric units) |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | AC | Anti-complementary substances present | Anti-complementary substances present |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | B | Better | Better (use when direction not relevant) |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | D | Significant change down | Significant change down |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | DET | Detected | Detected |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | H | Above high normal | Above high normal |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | HH | Above upper panic limits | Above upper panic limits |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | HM | Hold for Medical Review | Hold for Medical Review |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | I | Intermediate | Intermediate. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only. |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | IND | Indeterminate | Indeterminate |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | L | Below low normal | Below low normal |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | LL | Below lower panic limits | Below lower panic limits |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | MS | Moderately susceptible | Moderately susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only. |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | N | Normal | Normal (applies to non-numeric results) |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | ND | Not Detected | Not Detected |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | NEG | Negative | Negative |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | NR | Non-reactive | Non-reactive |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | OBX | Interpretation qualifiers in separate OBX segments | Interpretation qualifiers in separate OBX segments |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | POS | Positive | Positive |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | QCF | Quality Control Failure | Quality Control Failure |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | R | Resistant | Resistant. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only. |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | RR | Reactive | Reactive |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | S | Susceptible | Susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only. |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | TOX | Cytotoxic substance present | Cytotoxic substance present |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | U | Significant change up | Significant change up |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | VS | Very susceptible | Very susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only. |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | W | Worse | Worse-use when direction not relevant |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | WR | Weakly reactive | Weakly reactive |  |
`http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation` | null | No range defined, or normal ranges don't apply | No range defined, or normal ranges don't apply |  |

Explanation of the columns that may appear on this page:

Level | A few code lists that FHIR defines are hierarchical - each code is assigned a level. In this scheme, some codes are under other codes, and imply that the code they are under also applies
System | The source of the definition of the code (when the value set draws in codes defined elsewhere)
Code | The code (used as the code in the resource instance)
Display | The display (used in the display element of a Coding). If there is no display, implementers should not simply display the code, but map the concept into their application
Definition | An explanation of the meaning of the concept
Comments | Additional notes about how to use the code