# Interpretation Codes (2.8.1 - 2.1.0) - HL7 v2.8.1 Vocabulary v0.2.0

* [**Table of Contents**](toc.md)
* [**Artifacts Summary**](artifacts.md)
* **Interpretation Codes (2.8.1 - 2.1.0)**

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

| | |
| :--- | :--- |
| *Official URL*:http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation | *Version*:2.1.0 |
| Active as of 2026-03-13 | *Computable Name*:ObservationInterpretation |
| *Other Identifiers:*OID:2.16.840.1.113883.5.83, urn:ietf:rfc:3986#Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)#http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/v2-0078 | |
| **Copyright/Legal**: HL7 Inc., 2026 | |

 
HL7-defined code system of concepts which specify a categorical assessment of an observation value. Used in HL7 Version 2.x messaging in the OBX segment. 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. 

 This Code system is referenced in the content logical definition of the following value sets: 

* [Hl7VSinterpretationCode](ValueSet-hl7VSinterpretationCode.md)



## Resource Content

```json
{
  "resourceType" : "CodeSystem",
  "id" : "observationInterpretation",
  "extension" : [{
    "url" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/StructureDefinition/codesystem-v2versionCreated",
    "valueString" : "2.8.1"
  },
  {
    "url" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/StructureDefinition/codesystem-versionHistory",
    "valueString" : "generate correct history somehow"
  },
  {
    "url" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/StructureDefinition/codesystem-tableNo",
    "valueString" : "0078"
  }],
  "url" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationInterpretation",
  "identifier" : [{
    "system" : "urn:ietf:rfc:3986",
    "value" : "urn:oid:2.16.840.1.113883.5.83"
  },
  {
    "system" : "urn:ietf:rfc:3986",
    "value" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/v2-0078"
  }],
  "version" : "2.1.0",
  "name" : "ObservationInterpretation",
  "title" : "Interpretation Codes (2.8.1 - 2.1.0)",
  "status" : "active",
  "experimental" : true,
  "date" : "2026-03-13T11:11:38+00:00",
  "publisher" : "HL7/FO",
  "contact" : [{
    "name" : "HL7/FO",
    "telecom" : [{
      "system" : "url",
      "value" : "http://www.hl7.org"
    }]
  }],
  "description" : "HL7-defined code system of concepts which specify a categorical assessment of an observation value.  Used in HL7 Version 2.x messaging in the OBX segment.\r\nNotes: This is being communicated in v2.x in OBX-8, in v3 in ObservationInterpretation (CWE) in R1 (Representative Realm) and in FHIR Observation.interpretation.",
  "copyright" : "HL7 Inc., 2026",
  "caseSensitive" : true,
  "compositional" : false,
  "content" : "complete",
  "property" : [{
    "code" : "versionIntroduced",
    "uri" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#versionIntroduced",
    "description" : "version when was this code introduced",
    "type" : "string"
  },
  {
    "code" : "versionDeprecated",
    "uri" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#versionDeprecated",
    "description" : "version when was this code deprecated",
    "type" : "string"
  },
  {
    "code" : "status",
    "uri" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#status",
    "description" : "A code that indicates the status of the concept. Typical values are active, experimental, deprecated, and retired",
    "type" : "code"
  },
  {
    "code" : "comment",
    "uri" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#comment",
    "description" : "A string that provides additional detail pertinent to the use or understanding of the concept",
    "type" : "string"
  },
  {
    "code" : "usage",
    "uri" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#usage",
    "description" : "usage notes for this code",
    "type" : "string"
  },
  {
    "code" : "modified",
    "uri" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#modified",
    "description" : "date of last modification",
    "type" : "dateTime"
  }],
  "concept" : [{
    "code" : "<",
    "display" : "Below absolute low-off instrument scale",
    "definition" : "Below absolute low-off instrument scale",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Unter Meßbereich (Extremwertverletzung)"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : ">",
    "display" : "Above absolute high-off instrument scale",
    "definition" : "Above absolute high-off instrument scale",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Über Meßbereich (Extremwertverletzung)"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.2"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "A",
    "display" : "Abnormal (applies to non-numeric results)",
    "definition" : "Abnormal (applies to non-numeric results)",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "anormal (nicht numerisch)"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "AA",
    "display" : "Very abnormal",
    "definition" : "Very abnormal (applies to non-numeric units, analogous to panic limits for numeric units)",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Pathologisch (nicht numerisch)"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "AC",
    "display" : "Anti-complementary substances present",
    "definition" : "Anti-complementary substances present",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "B",
    "display" : "Better",
    "definition" : "Better (use when direction not relevant)",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Verbesserung"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.2"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "D",
    "display" : "Significant change down",
    "definition" : "Significant change down",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Deutlicher Trend nach unten"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "DET",
    "display" : "Detected",
    "definition" : "Detected",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "H",
    "display" : "Above high normal",
    "definition" : "Above high normal",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Oberhalb oberer Grenze Referenzbereich"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "HH",
    "display" : "Above upper panic limits",
    "definition" : "Above upper panic limits",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Oberhalb oberer pathologischer Grenze"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "HM",
    "display" : "Hold for Medical Review",
    "definition" : "Hold for Medical Review",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.8"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "I",
    "display" : "Intermediate",
    "definition" : "Intermediate. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only.",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Intermediär"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "IND",
    "display" : "Indeterminate",
    "definition" : "Indeterminate",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "L",
    "display" : "Below low normal",
    "definition" : "Below low normal",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Unterhalb unterer Grenze Referenzbereich"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.2"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "LL",
    "display" : "Below lower panic limits",
    "definition" : "Below lower panic limits",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Unterhalb unterer pathologischer Grenze"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "MS",
    "display" : "Moderately susceptible",
    "definition" : "Moderately susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only.",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "mäßig empfindlich"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "N",
    "display" : "Normal",
    "definition" : "Normal (applies to non-numeric results)",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Normal (nicht numerisch)"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "comment",
      "valueString" : "applies to non-numeric results"
    },
    {
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.2"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "ND",
    "display" : "Not Detected",
    "definition" : "Not Detected",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "NEG",
    "display" : "Negative",
    "definition" : "Negative",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "NR",
    "display" : "Non-reactive",
    "definition" : "Non-reactive",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "OBX",
    "display" : "Interpretation qualifiers in separate OBX segments",
    "definition" : "Interpretation qualifiers in separate OBX segments",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.8"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "POS",
    "display" : "Positive",
    "definition" : "Positive",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "QCF",
    "display" : "Quality Control Failure",
    "definition" : "Quality Control Failure",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "R",
    "display" : "Resistant",
    "definition" : "Resistant. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only.",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Resistent"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "RR",
    "display" : "Reactive",
    "definition" : "Reactive",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "S",
    "display" : "Susceptible",
    "definition" : "Susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only.",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Empfindlich"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "TOX",
    "display" : "Cytotoxic substance present",
    "definition" : "Cytotoxic substance present",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "U",
    "display" : "Significant change up",
    "definition" : "Significant change up",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Deutlicher Trend nach oben"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "VS",
    "display" : "Very susceptible",
    "definition" : "Very susceptible. Indicates for microbiology susceptibilities only.",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Sehr empfindlich"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "W",
    "display" : "Worse",
    "definition" : "Worse-use when direction not relevant",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Verschlechterung"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "modified",
      "valueDateTime" : "2025-08-02"
    },
    {
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.2"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "WR",
    "display" : "Weakly reactive",
    "definition" : "Weakly reactive",
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.7"
    }]
  },
  {
    "code" : "null",
    "display" : "No range defined, or normal ranges don't apply",
    "definition" : "No range defined, or normal ranges don't apply",
    "designation" : [{
      "language" : "de",
      "value" : "Kein Referenzbereich / Referenzbereich nicht anwendbar"
    }],
    "property" : [{
      "code" : "versionIntroduced",
      "valueString" : "2.1"
    }]
  }]
}

```
