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4.3.2.164 4.3.2.152 CodeSystem http://hl7.org/fhir/observation-status

  Maturity Level : N
Responsible Owner: Orders and Observations icon Work Group Normative (from v4.0.0) Use Context : Country: World
Official URL : http://hl7.org/fhir/observation-status Version : 5.0.0 6.0.0-ballot3
active as of 2021-01-05 2021-01-04 Computable Name : ObservationStatus
Flags : CaseSensitive, Complete. All codes ValueSet: Observation Status OID : 2.16.840.1.113883.4.642.4.401

This Code system is used in the following FHIR core-defined or referenced value sets:

4.3.2.164.1 4.3.2.152.1 Definition

Codes providing the status of an observation.

4.3.2.164.2 4.3.2.152.2 Content

Generated Narrative: CodeSystem observation-status

Last updated: 2025-11-14T20:54:02.388Z

This case-sensitive code system http://hl7.org/fhir/observation-status defines the following codes: codes in a Is-A hierarchy:

Lvl Code Display Definition Copy
1 registered Registered

The existence of the observation is registered, but there is no result yet available.

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1 specimen-in-process Specimen-in-Process

The specimen being processed in the laboratory but no results are available yet.

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1 preliminary Preliminary

This is an initial or interim observation: data may be incomplete or unverified.

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1 final Final

The observation is complete and there are no further actions needed. Additional information such "released", "signed", etc. would be represented using [Provenance](provenance.html) Provenance which provides not only the act but also the actors and dates and other related data. These act states would be associated with an observation status of `preliminary` preliminary until they are all completed and then a status of `final` final would be applied. Also, this status applies for situations where there is a "not-asked" code for dataAbsentReason.

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1 amended Amended

Subsequent to being Final, the observation has been modified subsequent. modified. This includes updates/new information and corrections.

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2   corrected Corrected

Subsequent to being Final, the observation has been modified to correct an error in the original test result. result(s).

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2   appended Appended

Subsequent to being Final, the observation has been modified to include additional information, with no changes to the original test result(s).

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1 cancelled Cancelled

The observation is unavailable because the measurement was not started or not completed (also sometimes called "aborted"). A data absent reason should be present providing clarity as to why there is no value on an Observation instance

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1 entered-in-error Entered in Error

The observation has been withdrawn following previous final release. This electronic record should never have existed, though it is possible that real-world decisions were based on it. (If real-world activity has occurred, the status should be "cancelled" rather than "entered-in-error".).

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1 unknown Unknown

The authoring/source system does not know which of the status values currently applies for this observation. Note: This concept is not to be used for "other" - one of the listed statuses is presumed to apply, but the authoring/source system does not know which.

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1 cannot-be-obtained Cannot be obtained

The observation cannot be obtained.

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See the full registry of code systems defined as part of FHIR.

Explanation of the columns that may appear on this page:

Level A few code lists that FHIR defines are hierarchical - each code is assigned a level. See Code System for further information.
Source The source of the definition of the code (when the value set draws in codes defined elsewhere)
Code The code (used as the code in the resource instance). If the code is in italics, this indicates that the code is not selectable ('Abstract')
Display The display (used in the display element of a Coding ). If there is no display, implementers should not simply display the code, but map the concept into their application
Definition An explanation of the meaning of the concept
Comments Additional notes about how to use the code