Range (Eu Lab) - Definitions - HL7 Europe Laboratory Report v0.2.0-ci

HL7 Europe Laboratory Report, published by HL7 Europe. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.2.0-ci built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/hl7-eu/laboratory/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

Data Type Profile: RangeEuLab - Detailed Descriptions

Draft as of 2026-03-27

Definitions for the Range-eu-lab data type profile.

Key Elements Table
Differential Elements Table
Snapshot Elements Table

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Range
Definition	A measured range (or a range that can potentially be measured) and uncertainty of the measurement. This profile imposes that the code system for units be UCUM. A set of ordered Quantities defined by a low and high limit.
Short	A measured range using UCUMSet of values bounded by low and high
Comments	The stated low and high value are assumed to have arbitrarily high precision when it comes to determining which values are in the range. I.e. 1.99 is not in the range 2 -> 3.
Control	0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Is Modifier	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) rng-2: If present, low SHALL have a lower value than high (`low.empty() or high.empty() or (low <= high)`) rng-2: If present, low SHALL have a lower value than high (low.empty() or high.empty() or (low <= high))
2. Range.extension:uncertainty
Slice Name	uncertainty
Definition	The primary measure of variance/uncertainty of the value (the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences between all data points and the mean).
Short	Standard Deviation (same units as the quantity)
Comments	standardDeviation has the same units as the quantity. It is used to normalize the data for computing the distribution function. Applications that cannot deal with probability distributions can still get an idea about the confidence level by looking at standardDeviation.
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty) (Extension Type: decimal)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
4. Range.extension:uncertaintyType
Slice Name	uncertaintyType
Definition	A code specifying the type of probability distribution for the uncertainty.
Short	Probability Distribution Type for uncertainty
Comments	This is only meaningful if there is also an uncertainty extension. If there is an uncertainty extension with no type, this means that the probability distribution type is unknown. In that case, the uncertainty has the meaning of an informal guess.
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty type) (Extension Type: code)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Range
Definition	A measured range (or a range that can potentially be measured) and uncertainty of the measurement. This profile imposes that the code system for units be UCUM.
Short	A measured range using UCUM
2. Range.extension:uncertainty
Slice Name	uncertainty
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty) (Extension Type: decimal)
4. Range.extension:uncertaintyType
Slice Name	uncertaintyType
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty type) (Extension Type: code)
6. Range.low
8. Range.low.system
Control	1..?
Pattern Value	`http://unitsofmeasure.org`
10. Range.low.code
Control	1..?
12. Range.high
14. Range.high.system
Control	1..?
Pattern Value	`http://unitsofmeasure.org`
16. Range.high.code
Control	1..?

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Range
Definition	A measured range (or a range that can potentially be measured) and uncertainty of the measurement. This profile imposes that the code system for units be UCUM.
Short	A measured range using UCUM
Comments	The stated low and high value are assumed to have arbitrarily high precision when it comes to determining which values are in the range. I.e. 1.99 is not in the range 2 -> 3.
Control	0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Is Modifier	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) rng-2: If present, low SHALL have a lower value than high (`low.empty() or high.empty() or (low <= high)`)
2. Range.id
Definition	Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short	Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control	0..1
Type	string
Is Modifier	false
XML Format	In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary	false
4. Range.extension
Definition	May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short	Additional content defined by implementations
Comments	There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control	0..*
Type	Extension
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Alternate Names	extensions, user content
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing	This element introduces a set of slices on `Range.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
6. Range.extension:uncertainty
Slice Name	uncertainty
Definition	The primary measure of variance/uncertainty of the value (the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences between all data points and the mean).
Short	Standard Deviation (same units as the quantity)
Comments	standardDeviation has the same units as the quantity. It is used to normalize the data for computing the distribution function. Applications that cannot deal with probability distributions can still get an idea about the confidence level by looking at standardDeviation.
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty) (Extension Type: decimal)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
8. Range.extension:uncertaintyType
Slice Name	uncertaintyType
Definition	A code specifying the type of probability distribution for the uncertainty.
Short	Probability Distribution Type for uncertainty
Comments	This is only meaningful if there is also an uncertainty extension. If there is an uncertainty extension with no type, this means that the probability distribution type is unknown. In that case, the uncertainty has the meaning of an informal guess.
Control	0..1
Type	Extension(Uncertainty type) (Extension Type: code)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
10. Range.low
Definition	The low limit. The boundary is inclusive.
Short	Low limit
Comments	If the low element is missing, the low boundary is not known.
Control	0..1
Type	Quantity(SimpleQuantity)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	true
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
12. Range.low.id
Definition	Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short	Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control	0..1
Type	string
Is Modifier	false
XML Format	In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary	false
14. Range.low.extension
Definition	May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short	Additional content defined by implementations
Comments	There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control	0..*
Type	Extension
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Alternate Names	extensions, user content
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing	This element introduces a set of slices on `Range.low.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
16. Range.low.value
Definition	The value of the measured amount. The value includes an implicit precision in the presentation of the value.
Short	Numerical value (with implicit precision)
Comments	The implicit precision in the value should always be honored. Monetary values have their own rules for handling precision (refer to standard accounting text books).
Control	0..1
Type	decimal
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Precision is handled implicitly in almost all cases of measurement.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
18. Range.low.comparator
Definition	Not allowed to be used in this context
Short	< \| <= \| >= \| > - how to understand the value
Control	0..0
Binding	The codes SHALL be taken from QuantityComparator (required to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/quantity-comparator\|4.0.1`) How the Quantity should be understood and represented.
Type	code
Is Modifier	true because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because the comparator modifies the interpretation of the value significantly. If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need a framework for handling measures where the value is <5ug/L or >400mg/L due to the limitations of measuring methodology.
Meaning if Missing	If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
20. Range.low.unit
Definition	A human-readable form of the unit.
Short	Unit representation
Control	0..1
Type	string
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	There are many representations for units of measure and in many contexts, particular representations are fixed and required. I.e. mcg for micrograms.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
22. Range.low.system
Definition	The identification of the system that provides the coded form of the unit.
Short	System that defines coded unit form
Control	1..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: qty-3
Type	uri
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need to know the system that defines the coded form of the unit.
Pattern Value	`http://unitsofmeasure.org`
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
24. Range.low.code
Definition	A computer processable form of the unit in some unit representation system.
Short	Coded form of the unit
Comments	The preferred system is UCUM, but SNOMED CT can also be used (for customary units) or ISO 4217 for currency. The context of use may additionally require a code from a particular system.
Control	1..1
Type	code
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need a computable form of the unit that is fixed across all forms. UCUM provides this for quantities, but SNOMED CT provides many units of interest.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
26. Range.high
Definition	The high limit. The boundary is inclusive.
Short	High limit
Comments	If the high element is missing, the high boundary is not known.
Control	0..1
Type	Quantity(SimpleQuantity)
Is Modifier	false
Summary	true
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
28. Range.high.id
Definition	Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short	Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control	0..1
Type	string
Is Modifier	false
XML Format	In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary	false
30. Range.high.extension
Definition	May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short	Additional content defined by implementations
Comments	There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control	0..*
Type	Extension
Is Modifier	false
Summary	false
Alternate Names	extensions, user content
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing	This element introduces a set of slices on `Range.high.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
32. Range.high.value
Definition	The value of the measured amount. The value includes an implicit precision in the presentation of the value.
Short	Numerical value (with implicit precision)
Comments	The implicit precision in the value should always be honored. Monetary values have their own rules for handling precision (refer to standard accounting text books).
Control	0..1
Type	decimal
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Precision is handled implicitly in almost all cases of measurement.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
34. Range.high.comparator
Definition	Not allowed to be used in this context
Short	< \| <= \| >= \| > - how to understand the value
Control	0..0
Binding	The codes SHALL be taken from QuantityComparator (required to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/quantity-comparator\|4.0.1`) How the Quantity should be understood and represented.
Type	code
Is Modifier	true because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because the comparator modifies the interpretation of the value significantly. If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need a framework for handling measures where the value is <5ug/L or >400mg/L due to the limitations of measuring methodology.
Meaning if Missing	If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
36. Range.high.unit
Definition	A human-readable form of the unit.
Short	Unit representation
Control	0..1
Type	string
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	There are many representations for units of measure and in many contexts, particular representations are fixed and required. I.e. mcg for micrograms.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
38. Range.high.system
Definition	The identification of the system that provides the coded form of the unit.
Short	System that defines coded unit form
Control	1..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: qty-3
Type	uri
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need to know the system that defines the coded form of the unit.
Pattern Value	`http://unitsofmeasure.org`
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
40. Range.high.code
Definition	A computer processable form of the unit in some unit representation system.
Short	Coded form of the unit
Comments	The preferred system is UCUM, but SNOMED CT can also be used (for customary units) or ISO 4217 for currency. The context of use may additionally require a code from a particular system.
Control	1..1
Type	code
Is Modifier	false
Primitive Value	This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary	true
Requirements	Need a computable form of the unit that is fixed across all forms. UCUM provides this for quantities, but SNOMED CT provides many units of interest.
Invariants	ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)