HL7 v2.9 Vocabulary
0.2.0 - ci-build

HL7 v2.9 Vocabulary, published by HL7/FO. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.2.0 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.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 2026-03-13 | Computable Name: ObservationSubtype
Other Identifiers: OID:2.16.840.1.113883.18.440, urn:ietf:rfc:3986#Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)#http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/v2-0937
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:

- Hl7VSVS-observationSubtype

Properties

This code system defines the following properties for its concepts

Name | Code | URI | Type | Description
version introduced | versionIntroduced | http://terminology.hl7.org/v2plusvocab/CodeSystem/Property#versionIntroduced | string | version when was this code introduced
version deprecated | 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, to suppress IG-publisher warning, to be replaced with standard later | 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:

Code | Display | Definition | version introduced | status | comment, to suppress IG-publisher warning, to be replaced with standard later | modified
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