OBX field 5 (obs Value) repeating failure?!?
Eric Stott,
I have reviewed (yet again) the OBX 5 field and it is the most
confusing and vague field definition I have ever seen.
7.3.2.5 (v2.3.1)
"Definition: This field contains the value observed by the observation
producer. OBX-2-value type contains the data type for this field
according to which observation value is formatted. It is not a
required field because some systems will report only the
normalcy/abnormalcy (OBX-8), especially in product experience
reporting."
"OBX-5-observation value is a general field definition that is
influenced by the data type OBX-3"
Influenced? What the heck does that mean... does the phases of the moon
influence it too?
In addition, if you review the notes in chapter 7 about this field, it
basically says that anything goes... Partial results etc:
"Though two independent diagnostic statements cannot be reported in one
OBX segment, multiple categorical responses are allowed (usually as CE
data types separated by repeat delimiters), so long as they are
fragments (modifiers) that together construct one diagnostic
statement."
You gotta love it "usually as CE data types" but hey, it might be sent
in Semaphore code?
Namshub,
If you have a repeating TX datatype for this field, then I recommend
that you set the field to Repeat (unbounded) and make sure the datatype
is set to TX so that the parser understands it.
Out of curiosity, does the OBX.2 indicate the OBX.5 data type as TX?
The design of the BizTalk Schemas is to allow you to modify them as
necessary to meet your particular needs. This is clearly a case in
which this would be appropriate.
Of course, as a TX datatype, it does have to follow the section 2.9
rules for USE OF ESCAPE SEQUENCES IN TEXT FIELDS.
Thanks for pointing out another hole in my understanding of HL7!
We all learn everyday a little more.
Thanks,
Tom Canter
Neudesic
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