HL7 v2.9 Vocabulary
0.1.0 - ci-build

HL7 v2.9 Vocabulary, published by HL7/FO. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.1.0 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.v29/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

CodeSystem: Observation Sub-Type (2.9 - 1.1.0) (Experimental)

Official URL: http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationSubtype Version: 1.1.0
Active as of 2026-01-27 Computable Name: ObservationSubtype
Other Identifiers: OID:2.16.840.1.113883.18.440

Copyright/Legal: HL7 Inc., 2026

HL7-defined code system of concepts specifying the observation sub-type. Used in HL7 Version 2.x messaging in the OBX segment.

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

Properties

This code system defines the following properties for its concepts

NameCodeURITypeDescription
versionIntroduced versionIntroduced http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#versionIntroduced string version when was this code introduced
versionDeprecated versionDeprecated http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#versionDeprecated string version when was this code deprecated
status status http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#status code A code that indicates the status of the concept. Typical values are active, experimental, deprecated, and retired
comment comment http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#comment string A string that provides additional detail pertinent to the use or understanding of the concept
usage usage http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#usage string usage notes for this code
modified modified http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#modified dateTime date of last modification

Concepts

This case-sensitive code system http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/observationSubtype defines the following codes:

CodeDisplayDefinitionversionIntroducedstatuscommentmodified
AOE Ask at Order Entry Ask at Order Entry 2.8.2 Sub-type of QST (Question) - OBX-5 value is answer to an Ask at Order Entry question 2015-07-13
ASC Ask at Specimen Collection Ask at Specimen Collection 2.8.2 Sub-type of QST (Question) - OBX-5 value is answer to an Ask at Specimen Collection question 2015-07-13
MCS Micro Culture Status Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies observations that give overall culture outcome, when no specific organism is being named. 2.9 Examples are: no growth, normal flora 2022-08-25
MID Micro Isolate Descriptor Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies any other observations about the isolate. 2.9 Examples: catalase positive, hemolytic, etc. 2022-08-25
MIG Micro Isolate Growth Quantity Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies growth levels of an isolate – can be numeric or categorical. 2.9 Examples: <10,000 CFU, >100,00 CFU, Few, Moderate, Many, etc. 2022-08-25
MIN Micro Isolate Name Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies observations that name a specific organism either at the species or the genus level. 2.9 Examples are: Genus Serratia, Neisseria meningitidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, but also identification on a culture plate like presumptive Proteus species. 2022-08-25
MIR Micro Isolate Related Micro Isolate Related 2.8.2 inactive Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - qualifies the result as an isolate. 2017-12-05
MIRM Micro Isolate Related Modifier Micro Isolate Related Modifier 2.8.2 inactive Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - result is a modifier of the isolate (e.g., Few, Some, etc.) 2017-12-05
MNIR Micro Non-Isolate Related Micro Non-Isolate Related 2.8.2 inactive Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - qualifies result as microbiology not related to any isolate (e.g., gram stain observations) 2017-12-05
MOD Micro Other Descriptor Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies observations that do not fit the culture status, but is not at the isolate level. 2.9 2022-08-25
MSS Micro Sample Stain Sub-type of RSLT (Result) This term identifies observations on gram stains (and other stains or smears) on the clinical sample. 2.9 Examples are: many gram positive rods, acid fast bacteria seen, etc. 2017-12-05
SUP Supplemental Result Supplemental Result 2.8.2 Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - result coming over is additional material, for example points on a graph, an image, raw instrument data, links to related observations, etc. 2015-07-13
SUR Susceptibility Related Susceptibility Related 2.8.2 Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - result value is for micro susceptibility/sensitivity 2015-07-13
UNSP Unspecified Unspecified 2.8.2 Sub-type of RSLT (Result) - result falls outside of the other sub-types. 2015-07-13