This
page
is
part
of
the
FHIR
Specification
(v0.0.82:
(v1.0.2:
DSTU
1).
2).
The
current
version
which
supercedes
this
version
is
5.0.0
.
For
a
full
list
of
available
versions,
see
the
Directory
of
published
versions
.
Page
versions:
R5
R4B
R4
R3
R2
Orders
and
Observations
Work
Group
| Maturity Level : 3 | Compartments : Device , Encounter , Patient , Practitioner |
The
findings
and
interpretation
of
diagnostic
tests
performed
on
patients,
groups
of
patients,
devices,
and
locations,
and/or
specimens
derived
from
these.
The
report
includes
clinical
context
such
as
requesting
and
provider
information,
and
some
mix
of
atomic
results,
images,
textual
and
coded
interpretation,
interpretations,
and
formatted
representation
of
diagnostic
reports.
A diagnostic report is the set of information that is typically provided by a diagnostic service when investigations are complete. The information includes a mix of atomic results, text reports, images, and codes. The mix varies depending on the nature of the diagnostic procedure, and sometimes on the nature of the outcomes for a particular investigation. In FHIR, the report can be conveyed in a variety of ways including a Document , RESTful API , or Messaging framework. Included within each of these, would be the DiagnosticReport resource itself.
The
Diagnostic
DiagnosticReport
resource
has
information
about
the
diagnostic
report
itself,
and
about
the
subject
and,
in
the
case
of
lab
tests,
the
specimen
of
the
report.
It
can
also
refers
to
the
request
details
and
atomic
observations
details
or
image
instances.
Report
Resource
conclusions
can
be
expressed
as
a
simple
text
blob,
structured
coded
data
or
as
an
attached
fully
formatted
report
such
as
a
PDF.
The
DiagnosticReport
resource
is
suitable
for
the
following
kinds
of
Diagnostic
Reports:
diagnostic
reports:
The
Diagnostic
Report
DiagnosticReport
resource
is
not
intended
to
support
cumulative
result
presentation
(tabular
presentation
of
past
and
present
results
in
the
resource).
The
Diagnostic
Report
DiagnosticReport
resource
does
not
yet
provide
full
support
for
detailed
structured
reports
of
sequencing;
this
is
planned
for
a
future
release.
The
words
"tests",
"results",
"tests",
"results",
"observations",
"panels"
"panels"
and
"batteries"
"batteries"
are
often
used
interchangeably
when
describing
the
various
parts
of
a
diagnostic
report.
This
leads
to
much
confusion.
The
naming
confusion
is
worsened
because
of
the
wide
variety
of
forms
that
the
result
of
a
diagnostic
investigation
can
take,
as
described
above.
Languages
other
than
English
have
their
own
variations
on
this
theme.
This resource uses one particular set of terms. A practitioner "requests" a set of "tests". The diagnostic service returns a "report" which may contain a "narrative" - a written summary of the outcomes, and/or "results" - the individual pieces of atomic data which each are "observations". The results are assembled in "groups" which are nested structures of Observations (traditionally referred to as "panels" or " batteries" by laboratories) that can be used to represent relationships between the individual data items.
Note that many diagnostic processes are procedures that generate observations and diagnostic reports. In many cases, such an observation does not require an explicit representation of the procedure used to create the observation, but where there are details of interest about how the diagnostic procedure was performed, the Procedure resource is used to describe the activity.
In contrast to the Observation resource, the DiagnosticReport resource typically includes additional clinical context and some mix of atomic results, images, imaging reports, textual and coded interpretation, and formatted representations. Laboratory reports, pathology reports, and imaging reports should be represented using the DiagnosticReport resource. The Observation resource is referenced by the DiagnosticReport to provide the atomic results for a particular investigation.
If you have a highly structured report, then use DiagnosticReport - it has data and workflow support. Details about the request for a diagnostic investigation are captured in the various "request" resources (e.g., the DiagnosticOrder ) resource and allow the report to connect to clinical workflows. For more narrative driven reports with less work flow (histology/mortuary, etc.), the Composition resource would be more appropriate.
DSTU Note: The relationship between the two resources is subject to ongoing evaluation during the trial use period.
Feedback is welcome here
.
Image and media representations of the report and supporting images are referenced in the DiagnosticReport resource. The details and actual image instances can be referenced directly in Diagnostic report using the "imaging" element or by indirect reference through the ImagingObjectSelection or ImagingStudy resources which represent the content produced in a DICOM imaging study or set of DICOM Instances of a patient.
This resource is referenced by ClinicalImpression , Condition and Procedure
Structure
| Name | Flags | Card. | Type |
Description
&
Constraints
![]() |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | DomainResource | A Diagnostic report - a combination of request information, atomic results, images, interpretation, as well as formatted reports | ||
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..* | Identifier | Id for external references to this report |
![]() ![]() | ?! Σ | 1..1 | code |
registered
|
partial
|
final
|
corrected
|
appended
|
cancelled
|
entered-in-error
DiagnosticReportStatus ( Required ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..1 | CodeableConcept |
Service
category
Diagnostic Service Section Codes ( Example ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | CodeableConcept |
Name/Code
for
this
diagnostic
report
LOINC Diagnostic Report Codes ( Preferred ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Patient | Group | Device | Location ) | The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..1 | Reference ( Encounter ) | Health care event when test ordered |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | dateTime | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() | Period | |||
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | instant | DateTime this version was released |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Practitioner | Organization ) | Responsible Diagnostic Service |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( DiagnosticOrder | ProcedureRequest | ReferralRequest ) | What was requested | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( Specimen ) | Specimens this report is based on | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( Observation ) | Observations - simple, or complex nested groups | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( ImagingStudy | ImagingObjectSelection ) | Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report | |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..* | BackboneElement | Key images associated with this report |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 0..1 | string | Comment about the image (e.g. explanation) | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Media ) | Reference to the image source |
![]() ![]() | 0..1 | string | Clinical Interpretation of test results | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | CodeableConcept |
Codes
for
the
conclusion
SNOMED CT Clinical Findings ( Example ) | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Attachment | Entire report as issued | |
Documentation
for
this
format
| ||||
UML Diagram
XML Template
<DiagnosticReport xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"><!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language --> <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Id for external references to this report --></identifier> <status value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 registered | partial | final | corrected | appended | cancelled | entered-in-error --> <category><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Service category --></category> <code><!-- 1..1 CodeableConcept Name/Code for this diagnostic report --></code> <subject><!-- 1..1 Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Location) The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient --></subject> <encounter><!-- 0..1 Reference(Encounter) Health care event when test ordered --></encounter> <effective[x]><!-- 1..1 dateTime|Period Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report --></effective[x]> <issued value="[instant]"/><!-- 1..1 DateTime this version was released --> <performer><!-- 1..1 Reference(Practitioner|Organization) Responsible Diagnostic Service --></performer> <request><!-- 0..* Reference(DiagnosticOrder|ProcedureRequest|ReferralRequest) What was requested --></request> <specimen><!-- 0..* Reference(Specimen) Specimens this report is based on --></specimen> <result><!-- 0..* Reference(Observation) Observations - simple, or complex nested groups --></result> <imagingStudy><!-- 0..* Reference(ImagingStudy|ImagingObjectSelection) Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report --></imagingStudy> <image> <!-- 0..* Key images associated with this report --> <comment value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Comment about the image (e.g. explanation) --> <link><!-- 1..1 Reference(Media) Reference to the image source --></link> </image> <conclusion value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Clinical Interpretation of test results --> <codedDiagnosis><!-- 0..* CodeableConcept Codes for the conclusion --></codedDiagnosis> <presentedForm><!-- 0..* Attachment Entire report as issued --></presentedForm> </DiagnosticReport>
JSON Template
{
"resourceType" : "DiagnosticReport",
// from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
// from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Id for external references to this report
"status" : "<code>", // R! registered | partial | final | corrected | appended | cancelled | entered-in-error
"category" : { CodeableConcept }, // Service category
"code" : { CodeableConcept }, // R! Name/Code for this diagnostic report
"subject" : { Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Location) }, // R! The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient
"encounter" : { Reference(Encounter) }, // Health care event when test ordered
// effective[x]: Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report. One of these 2:
"effectiveDateTime" : "<dateTime>",
"effectivePeriod" : { Period },
"issued" : "<instant>", // R! DateTime this version was released
"performer" : { Reference(Practitioner|Organization) }, // R! Responsible Diagnostic Service
"request" : [{ Reference(DiagnosticOrder|ProcedureRequest|ReferralRequest) }], // What was requested
"specimen" : [{ Reference(Specimen) }], // Specimens this report is based on
"result" : [{ Reference(Observation) }], // Observations - simple, or complex nested groups
"imagingStudy" : [{ Reference(ImagingStudy|ImagingObjectSelection) }], // Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report
"image" : [{ // Key images associated with this report
"comment" : "<string>", // Comment about the image (e.g. explanation)
"link" : { Reference(Media) } // R! Reference to the image source
}],
"conclusion" : "<string>", // Clinical Interpretation of test results
"codedDiagnosis" : [{ CodeableConcept }], // Codes for the conclusion
"presentedForm" : [{ Attachment }] // Entire report as issued
}
Structure
| Name | Flags | Card. | Type |
Description
&
Constraints
![]() |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | DomainResource | A Diagnostic report - a combination of request information, atomic results, images, interpretation, as well as formatted reports | ||
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..* | Identifier | Id for external references to this report |
![]() ![]() | ?! Σ | 1..1 | code |
registered
|
partial
|
final
|
corrected
|
appended
|
cancelled
|
entered-in-error
DiagnosticReportStatus ( Required ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..1 | CodeableConcept |
Service
category
Diagnostic Service Section Codes ( Example ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | CodeableConcept |
Name/Code
for
this
diagnostic
report
LOINC Diagnostic Report Codes ( Preferred ) |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Patient | Group | Device | Location ) | The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..1 | Reference ( Encounter ) | Health care event when test ordered |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | dateTime | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() | Period | |||
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | instant | DateTime this version was released |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Practitioner | Organization ) | Responsible Diagnostic Service |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( DiagnosticOrder | ProcedureRequest | ReferralRequest ) | What was requested | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( Specimen ) | Specimens this report is based on | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( Observation ) | Observations - simple, or complex nested groups | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Reference ( ImagingStudy | ImagingObjectSelection ) | Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report | |
![]() ![]() | Σ | 0..* | BackboneElement | Key images associated with this report |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 0..1 | string | Comment about the image (e.g. explanation) | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Σ | 1..1 | Reference ( Media ) | Reference to the image source |
![]() ![]() | 0..1 | string | Clinical Interpretation of test results | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | CodeableConcept |
Codes
for
the
conclusion
SNOMED CT Clinical Findings ( Example ) | |
![]() ![]() | 0..* | Attachment | Entire report as issued | |
Documentation
for
this
format
| ||||
XML Template
<DiagnosticReport xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"><!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language --> <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Id for external references to this report --></identifier> <status value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 registered | partial | final | corrected | appended | cancelled | entered-in-error --> <category><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Service category --></category> <code><!-- 1..1 CodeableConcept Name/Code for this diagnostic report --></code> <subject><!-- 1..1 Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Location) The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient --></subject> <encounter><!-- 0..1 Reference(Encounter) Health care event when test ordered --></encounter> <effective[x]><!-- 1..1 dateTime|Period Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report --></effective[x]> <issued value="[instant]"/><!-- 1..1 DateTime this version was released --> <performer><!-- 1..1 Reference(Practitioner|Organization) Responsible Diagnostic Service --></performer> <request><!-- 0..* Reference(DiagnosticOrder|ProcedureRequest|ReferralRequest) What was requested --></request> <specimen><!-- 0..* Reference(Specimen) Specimens this report is based on --></specimen> <result><!-- 0..* Reference(Observation) Observations - simple, or complex nested groups --></result> <imagingStudy><!-- 0..* Reference(ImagingStudy|ImagingObjectSelection) Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report --></imagingStudy> <image> <!-- 0..* Key images associated with this report --> <comment value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Comment about the image (e.g. explanation) --> <link><!-- 1..1 Reference(Media) Reference to the image source --></link> </image>
<<conclusion value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Clinical Interpretation of test results --> <codedDiagnosis><!-- 0..* CodeableConcept Codes for the conclusion --></codedDiagnosis><</presentedForm><presentedForm><!-- 0..* Attachment Entire report as issued --></presentedForm> </DiagnosticReport>
JSON Template
{
"resourceType" : "DiagnosticReport",
// from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
// from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Id for external references to this report
"status" : "<code>", // R! registered | partial | final | corrected | appended | cancelled | entered-in-error
"category" : { CodeableConcept }, // Service category
"code" : { CodeableConcept }, // R! Name/Code for this diagnostic report
"subject" : { Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Location) }, // R! The subject of the report, usually, but not always, the patient
"encounter" : { Reference(Encounter) }, // Health care event when test ordered
// effective[x]: Clinically Relevant time/time-period for report. One of these 2:
"effectiveDateTime" : "<dateTime>",
"effectivePeriod" : { Period },
"issued" : "<instant>", // R! DateTime this version was released
"performer" : { Reference(Practitioner|Organization) }, // R! Responsible Diagnostic Service
"request" : [{ Reference(DiagnosticOrder|ProcedureRequest|ReferralRequest) }], // What was requested
"specimen" : [{ Reference(Specimen) }], // Specimens this report is based on
"result" : [{ Reference(Observation) }], // Observations - simple, or complex nested groups
"imagingStudy" : [{ Reference(ImagingStudy|ImagingObjectSelection) }], // Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report
"image" : [{ // Key images associated with this report
"comment" : "<string>", // Comment about the image (e.g. explanation)
"link" : { Reference(Media) } // R! Reference to the image source
}],
"conclusion" : "<string>", // Clinical Interpretation of test results
"codedDiagnosis" : [{ CodeableConcept }], // Codes for the conclusion
"presentedForm" : [{ Attachment }] // Entire report as issued
}
Alternate definitions: Schema / Schematron , Resource Profile ( XML , JSON ), Questionnaire
| Path | Definition | Type | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiagnosticReport.status |
|
|
|
| DiagnosticReport.category |
|
|
|
| DiagnosticReport.code |
Codes
|
|
|
| DiagnosticReport.codedDiagnosis |
Diagnoses
codes
provided
as
adjuncts
to
the
|
Example |
|
Examples of nested report groups: the

If
the
diagnostic
procedure
was
performed
on
the
patient
directly,
diagnostic[x]
the
effective[x]
element
is
a
dateTime,
the
time
it
was
performed.
If
specimens
were
taken,
the
diagnostically
clinically
relevant
time
of
the
report
can
be
derived
from
the
specimen
collection
times,
but
since
detailed
specimen
information
is
not
always
available,
and
nor
is
the
diagnostically
clinically
relevant
time
always
exactly
the
specimen
collection
time
(e.g.
complex
timed
tests),
the
reports
SHALL
always
include
a
diagnostic[x]
effective[x]
element.
Note
that
HL7
v2
messages
often
carry
a
diagnostically
relevant
time
without
carrying
any
specimen
information.


ImagingStudy and ImageObjectStudy and the DiagnosticReport.image element are somewhat overlapping - typically, the list of image references in the image element will also be found in one of the imaging study resources. However each caters to different types of displays for different types of purposes. Neither, either, or both may be provided.

This resource provides for 3 different ways of presenting the Diagnostic Report:
Note that the conclusion and the coded diagnoses are part of the atomic data, and SHOULD be duplicated in the narrative and in the presented form if the latter is present. The narrative and the presented form serve the same function: a representation of the report for a human. The presented form is included since diagnostic service reports often contain presentation features that are not easy to reproduce in the HTML narrative. Whether or not the presented form is included, the narrative must be a clinically safe view of the diagnostic report; at a minimum, this could be fulfilled by a note indicating that the narrative is not proper representation of the report, and that the presented form must be used, or a generated view from the atomic data. However consumers of the report will best be served if the narrative contains clinically relevant data from the form. Commonly, the following patterns are used:
Note that the nature of reports from the various disciplines that provide diagnostic reports are changing quickly, as expert systems provide improved narrative reporting in high volume reports, structured reporting brings additional data to areas that have classically been narrative based, and the nature of the imaging and laboratory procedures are merging. As a consequence the patterns described above are only examples of how a diagnostic report can be used.
Search
parameters
for
this
resource.
The
standard
common
parameters
also
apply.
See
Searching
for
more
information
about
searching
in
REST,
messaging,
and
services.
| Name | Type | Description | Paths |
|
|
token |
|
DiagnosticReport.category |
|
|
token |
The
|
DiagnosticReport.code |
| date | date | The clinically relevant time of the report |
|
| diagnosis | token | A coded diagnosis on the report | DiagnosticReport.codedDiagnosis |
| encounter | reference | The Encounter when the order was made |
DiagnosticReport.encounter
( Encounter ) |
| identifier | token | An identifier for the report | DiagnosticReport.identifier |
| image | reference |
|
DiagnosticReport.image.link
( Media ) |
| issued | date | When the report was issued | DiagnosticReport.issued |
|
|
|
The
|
( Patient ) |
| performer | reference | Who was the source of the report (organization) |
DiagnosticReport.performer
( Organization , Practitioner ) |
| request | reference |
|
( ReferralRequest , ProcedureRequest , DiagnosticOrder ) |
| result | reference | Link to an atomic result (observation resource) |
DiagnosticReport.result
( Observation ) |
|
|
reference | The specimen details |
DiagnosticReport.specimen
( Specimen ) |
| status | token | The status of the report | DiagnosticReport.status |
| subject | reference | The subject of the report |
DiagnosticReport.subject
( Device , Location , Patient , Group ) |