OBR: Observation request

The form a doctor fills in to ask the lab for a test: what is being asked for, who asked, and which sample it applies to. The lab writes its answers on OBX segments underneath, but OBR is the question.

OBR carries one request for an observation: what was ordered, who ordered it, when the specimen was taken, and in a result message, the report that answered it.

The shape of one line

OBRsegmentwhat kind of line this is

1OBR-1Set ID - OBR

ORD8842^EPICOBR-2Placer Order Number

LAB77213^LABSYSOBR-3Filler Order Number

58410-2^CBC PANEL^LNOBR-4Universal Service Identifier

ROBR-5Priority – OBR

OBR-6Requested Date/Time

20240314103000OBR-7Observation Date/Time #

required empty in this messageevery box is one | apart

Where OBR appears

Message	Segment order
ORU^R01 result	MSH → {PID → {OBR → [{NTE}] → {OBX}}}
ORM^O01 order	MSH → PID → {ORC → OBR → [{NTE}] → [{OBX}]}
OML^O21 lab order	MSH → PID → {ORC → OBR → [{SPM}] → [{OBX}]}

OBR appears in 28 of the 202 message structures the standard defines.

A whole message

OBR from a completed lab result, showing both the placer and filler identifiers

MSH|^~\&|LABSYS|STJOSEPH|EPIC|STJOSEPH|20240314141207||ORU^R01^ORU_R01|LR20240314-88412|P|2.5.1
PID|1||1000345678^^^STJOSEPH^MR||CARTWRIGHT^ELEANOR^MAY^^^^L||19510822|F
OBR|1|ORD8842^EPIC|LAB77213^LABSYS|58410-2^CBC PANEL^LN|||20240314103000|||TECH04^NAKAMURA^YUKI|||||BLD&BLOOD&HL70070|1447312^OKONKWO^ADAEZE^^^^MD||||||20240314141000||HM|F
OBX|1|NM|718-7^HEMOGLOBIN^LN||11.8|g/dL|12.0-15.5|L|||F|||20240314141000

Every field

SEQ LEN DT OPT RP/# TBL# ITEM# Element name Cardinality

OBR-1 4 SI O 00237 Set ID - OBR 0..1

OBR-2 22 EI C 00216 Placer Order Number 0..1

OBR-2 is a EI, which holds 4 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
EI.1	199	ST	O		Entity Identifier
EI.2	20	IS	O	0363	Namespace ID
EI.3	199	ST	C		Universal ID
EI.4	6	ID	C	0301	Universal ID Type

OBR-3 22 EI C 00217 Filler Order Number 0..1

OBR-3 is a EI, which holds 4 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
EI.1	199	ST	O		Entity Identifier
EI.2	20	IS	O	0363	Namespace ID
EI.3	199	ST	C		Universal ID
EI.4	6	ID	C	0301	Universal ID Type

OBR-4 250 CE R 00238 Universal Service Identifier 1..1

OBR-4 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-5 2 ID B 00239 Priority – OBR deprecated 0..1

OBR-6 26 TS B 00240 Requested Date/Time deprecated 0..1

OBR-6 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-7 26 TS C 00241 Observation Date/Time # 0..1

OBR-7 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-8 26 TS O 00242 Observation End Date/Time # 0..1

OBR-8 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-9 20 CQ O 00243 Collection Volume * 0..1

OBR-9 is a CQ, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CQ.1	16	NM	O		Quantity
CQ.2	483	CE	O		Units

OBR-10 250 XCN O Y 00244 Collector Identifier * 0..*

OBR-10 is a XCN, which holds 23 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
XCN.1	15	ST	O		ID Number
XCN.2	194	FN	O		Family Name
XCN.3	30	ST	O		Given Name
XCN.4	30	ST	O		Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof
XCN.5	20	ST	O		Suffix (e.g., JR or III)
XCN.6	20	ST	O		Prefix (e.g., DR)
XCN.7	5	IS	B	0360	Degree (e.g., MD)
XCN.8	4	IS	C	0297	Source Table
XCN.9	227	HD	O	0363	Assigning Authority
XCN.10	1	ID	O	0200	Name Type Code
XCN.11	1	ST	O		Identifier Check Digit
XCN.12	3	ID	C	0061	Check Digit Scheme
XCN.13	5	ID	O	0203	Identifier Type Code
XCN.14	227	HD	O		Assigning Facility
XCN.15	1	ID	O	0465	Name Representation Code
XCN.16	483	CE	O	0448	Name Context
XCN.17	53	DR	B		Name Validity Range
XCN.18	1	ID	O	0444	Name Assembly Order
XCN.19	26	TS	O		Effective Date
XCN.20	26	TS	O		Expiration Date
XCN.21	199	ST	O		Professional Suffix
XCN.22	705	CWE	O		Assigning Jurisdiction
XCN.23	705	CWE	O		Assigning Agency or Department

OBR-11 1 ID O 0065 00245 Specimen Action Code * 0..1

OBR-12 250 CE O 00246 Danger Code 0..1

OBR-12 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-13 300 ST O 00247 Relevant Clinical Information 0..1

OBR-14 26 TS B 00248 Specimen Received Date/Time * deprecated 0..1

OBR-14 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-15 300 SPS B 00249 Specimen Source deprecated 0..1

OBR-15 is a SPS, which holds 7 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
SPS.1	705	CWE	O		Specimen Source Name or Code
SPS.2	705	CWE	O	0371	Additives
SPS.3	200	TX	O		Specimen Collection Method
SPS.4	705	CWE	O	0163	Body Site
SPS.5	705	CWE	O	0495	Site Modifier
SPS.6	705	CWE	O		Collection Method Modifier Code
SPS.7	705	CWE	O	0369	Specimen Role

OBR-16 250 XCN O Y 00226 Ordering Provider 0..*

OBR-16 is a XCN, which holds 23 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
XCN.1	15	ST	O		ID Number
XCN.2	194	FN	O		Family Name
XCN.3	30	ST	O		Given Name
XCN.4	30	ST	O		Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof
XCN.5	20	ST	O		Suffix (e.g., JR or III)
XCN.6	20	ST	O		Prefix (e.g., DR)
XCN.7	5	IS	B	0360	Degree (e.g., MD)
XCN.8	4	IS	C	0297	Source Table
XCN.9	227	HD	O	0363	Assigning Authority
XCN.10	1	ID	O	0200	Name Type Code
XCN.11	1	ST	O		Identifier Check Digit
XCN.12	3	ID	C	0061	Check Digit Scheme
XCN.13	5	ID	O	0203	Identifier Type Code
XCN.14	227	HD	O		Assigning Facility
XCN.15	1	ID	O	0465	Name Representation Code
XCN.16	483	CE	O	0448	Name Context
XCN.17	53	DR	B		Name Validity Range
XCN.18	1	ID	O	0444	Name Assembly Order
XCN.19	26	TS	O		Effective Date
XCN.20	26	TS	O		Expiration Date
XCN.21	199	ST	O		Professional Suffix
XCN.22	705	CWE	O		Assigning Jurisdiction
XCN.23	705	CWE	O		Assigning Agency or Department

OBR-17 250 XTN O Y/2 00250 Order Callback Phone Number 0..2

OBR-17 is a XTN, which holds 12 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
XTN.1	199	ST	B		Telephone Number
XTN.2	3	ID	O	0201	Telecommunication Use Code
XTN.3	8	ID	O	0202	Telecommunication Equipment Type
XTN.4	199	ST	O		Email Address
XTN.5	3	NM	O		Country Code
XTN.6	5	NM	O		Area/City Code
XTN.7	9	NM	O		Local Number
XTN.8	5	NM	O		Extension
XTN.9	199	ST	O		Any Text
XTN.10	4	ST	O		Extension Prefix
XTN.11	6	ST	O		Speed Dial Code
XTN.12	199	ST	C		Unformatted Telephone number

OBR-18 60 ST O 00251 Placer Field 1 0..1

OBR-19 60 ST O 00252 Placer Field 2 0..1

OBR-20 60 ST O 00253 Filler Field 1 + 0..1

OBR-21 60 ST O 00254 Filler Field 2 + 0..1

OBR-22 26 TS C 00255 Results Rpt/Status Chng - Date/Time + 0..1

OBR-22 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-23 40 MOC O 00256 Charge to Practice + 0..1

OBR-23 is a MOC, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
MOC.1	20	MO	O		Monetary Amount
MOC.2	483	CE	O		Charge Code

OBR-24 10 ID O 0074 00257 Diagnostic Serv Sect ID 0..1

OBR-25 1 ID C 0123 00258 Result Status + 0..1

OBR-26 400 PRL O 00259 Parent Result + 0..1

OBR-26 is a PRL, which holds 3 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	Component name
PRL.1	483	CE	R	Parent Observation Identifier
PRL.2	20	ST	O	Parent Observation Sub- identifier
PRL.3	250	TX	O	Parent Observation Value Descriptor

OBR-27 200 TQ B Y 00221 Quantity/Timing deprecated 0..*

OBR-27 is a TQ, which holds 12 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TQ.1	267	CQ	O		Quantity
TQ.2	206	RI	O		Interval
TQ.3	6	ST	O		Duration
TQ.4	26	TS	O		Start Date/Time
TQ.5	26	TS	O		End Date/Time
TQ.6	6	ST	O		Priority
TQ.7	199	ST	O		Condition
TQ.8	200	TX	O		Text
TQ.9	1	ID	O	0472	Conjunction
TQ.10	110	OSD	O		Order Sequencing
TQ.11	483	CE	O		Occurrence Duration
TQ.12	4	NM	O		Total Occurrences

OBR-28 250 XCN O Y 00260 Result Copies To 0..*

OBR-28 is a XCN, which holds 23 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
XCN.1	15	ST	O		ID Number
XCN.2	194	FN	O		Family Name
XCN.3	30	ST	O		Given Name
XCN.4	30	ST	O		Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof
XCN.5	20	ST	O		Suffix (e.g., JR or III)
XCN.6	20	ST	O		Prefix (e.g., DR)
XCN.7	5	IS	B	0360	Degree (e.g., MD)
XCN.8	4	IS	C	0297	Source Table
XCN.9	227	HD	O	0363	Assigning Authority
XCN.10	1	ID	O	0200	Name Type Code
XCN.11	1	ST	O		Identifier Check Digit
XCN.12	3	ID	C	0061	Check Digit Scheme
XCN.13	5	ID	O	0203	Identifier Type Code
XCN.14	227	HD	O		Assigning Facility
XCN.15	1	ID	O	0465	Name Representation Code
XCN.16	483	CE	O	0448	Name Context
XCN.17	53	DR	B		Name Validity Range
XCN.18	1	ID	O	0444	Name Assembly Order
XCN.19	26	TS	O		Effective Date
XCN.20	26	TS	O		Expiration Date
XCN.21	199	ST	O		Professional Suffix
XCN.22	705	CWE	O		Assigning Jurisdiction
XCN.23	705	CWE	O		Assigning Agency or Department

OBR-29 200 EIP O 00261 Parent 0..1

OBR-29 is a EIP, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
EIP.1	427	EI	O		Placer Assigned Identifier
EIP.2	427	EI	O		Filler Assigned Identifier

OBR-30 20 ID O 0124 00262 Transportation Mode 0..1

OBR-31 250 CE O Y 00263 Reason for Study 0..*

OBR-31 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-32 200 NDL O 00264 Principal Result Interpreter + 0..1

OBR-32 is a NDL, which holds 11 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
NDL.1	406	CNN	O		Name
NDL.2	26	TS	O		Start Date/time
NDL.3	26	TS	O		End Date/time
NDL.4	20	IS	O	0302	Point of Care
NDL.5	20	IS	O	0303	Room
NDL.6	20	IS	O	0304	Bed
NDL.7	227	HD	O		Facility
NDL.8	20	IS	O	0306	Location Status
NDL.9	20	IS	O	0305	Patient Location Type
NDL.10	20	IS	O	0307	Building
NDL.11	20	IS	O	0308	Floor

OBR-33 200 NDL O Y 00265 Assistant Result Interpreter + 0..*

OBR-33 is a NDL, which holds 11 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
NDL.1	406	CNN	O		Name
NDL.2	26	TS	O		Start Date/time
NDL.3	26	TS	O		End Date/time
NDL.4	20	IS	O	0302	Point of Care
NDL.5	20	IS	O	0303	Room
NDL.6	20	IS	O	0304	Bed
NDL.7	227	HD	O		Facility
NDL.8	20	IS	O	0306	Location Status
NDL.9	20	IS	O	0305	Patient Location Type
NDL.10	20	IS	O	0307	Building
NDL.11	20	IS	O	0308	Floor

OBR-34 200 NDL O Y 00266 Technician + 0..*

OBR-34 is a NDL, which holds 11 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
NDL.1	406	CNN	O		Name
NDL.2	26	TS	O		Start Date/time
NDL.3	26	TS	O		End Date/time
NDL.4	20	IS	O	0302	Point of Care
NDL.5	20	IS	O	0303	Room
NDL.6	20	IS	O	0304	Bed
NDL.7	227	HD	O		Facility
NDL.8	20	IS	O	0306	Location Status
NDL.9	20	IS	O	0305	Patient Location Type
NDL.10	20	IS	O	0307	Building
NDL.11	20	IS	O	0308	Floor

OBR-35 200 NDL O Y 00267 Transcriptionist + 0..*

OBR-35 is a NDL, which holds 11 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
NDL.1	406	CNN	O		Name
NDL.2	26	TS	O		Start Date/time
NDL.3	26	TS	O		End Date/time
NDL.4	20	IS	O	0302	Point of Care
NDL.5	20	IS	O	0303	Room
NDL.6	20	IS	O	0304	Bed
NDL.7	227	HD	O		Facility
NDL.8	20	IS	O	0306	Location Status
NDL.9	20	IS	O	0305	Patient Location Type
NDL.10	20	IS	O	0307	Building
NDL.11	20	IS	O	0308	Floor

OBR-36 26 TS O 00268 Scheduled Date/Time + 0..1

OBR-36 is a TS, which holds 2 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
TS.1	24	DTM	R		Time
TS.2	1	ID	B	0529	Degree of Precision

OBR-37 4 NM O 01028 Number of Sample Containers * 0..1

OBR-38 250 CE O Y 01029 Transport Logistics of Collected Sample * 0..*

OBR-38 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-39 250 CE O Y 01030 Collector's Comment * 0..*

OBR-39 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-40 250 CE O 01031 Transport Arrangement Responsibility 0..1

OBR-40 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-41 30 ID O 0224 01032 Transport Arranged 0..1

OBR-42 1 ID O 0225 01033 Escort Required 0..1

OBR-43 250 CE O Y 01034 Planned Patient Transport Comment 0..*

OBR-43 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-44 250 CE O 0088 00393 Procedure Code 0..1

OBR-44 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-45 250 CE O Y 0340 01316 Procedure Code Modifier 0..*

OBR-45 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-46 250 CE O Y 0411 01474 Placer Supplemental Service Information 0..*

OBR-46 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-47 250 CE O Y 0411 01475 Filler Supplemental Service Information 0..*

OBR-47 is a CE, which holds 6 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System

OBR-48 250 CWE C 0476 01646 Medically Necessary Duplicate Procedure Reason. 0..1

OBR-48 is a CWE, which holds 9 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CWE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CWE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CWE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CWE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CWE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CWE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System
CWE.7	10	ST	C		Coding System Version ID
CWE.8	10	ST	O		Alternate Coding System Version ID
CWE.9	199	ST	O		Original Text

OBR-49 2 IS O 0507 01647 Result Handling 0..1

OBR-50 250 CWE O 02286 Parent Universal Service Identifier 0..1

OBR-50 is a CWE, which holds 9 components separated by carets.

SEQ	LEN	DT	OPT	TBL#	Component name
CWE.1	20	ST	O		Identifier
CWE.2	199	ST	O		Text
CWE.3	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Coding System
CWE.4	20	ST	O		Alternate Identifier
CWE.5	199	ST	O		Alternate Text
CWE.6	20	ID	O	0396	Name of Alternate Coding System
CWE.7	10	ST	C		Coding System Version ID
CWE.8	10	ST	O		Alternate Coding System Version ID
CWE.9	199	ST	O		Original Text

Open this OBR message in HL7 Studio

Field notes

OBR-2Placer Order Number
Placer order number, assigned by the system that placed the order, with the assigning system in component 2. This is how the ordering system recognises its own order coming back. It has to survive the round trip unchanged, and a laboratory that regenerates it instead of echoing it breaks reconciliation at the ordering end.
Open OBR-2 in HL7 Studio
OBR-3Filler Order Number
Filler order number, assigned by the system that performed the work. Together with OBR-2 it is the identifier pair that makes an order traceable across both sides. In a result message both should be present; where only the filler number appears, the result cannot be automatically matched to the order that produced it and lands in a manual queue.
Open OBR-3 in HL7 Studio
OBR-4Universal Service Identifier
Universal service identifier, saying what was ordered. Same shape as OBX-3: a standard code triplet and a local one. For a panel it names the panel, and the individual analytes appear as the OBX segments beneath.
Open OBR-4 in HL7 Studio
OBR-7Observation Date/Time #
Observation date and time, which for a specimen-based test is the collection time and for a procedure is when it was performed. This is the clinical time and it is the one to store. OBR-22 is the reporting time and MSH-7 is the transmission time.
Open OBR-7 in HL7 Studio
OBR-11Specimen Action Code *
Specimen action code, bound to table 0065. A adds an ordered test to an existing specimen, G means treat as a group, L means the lab is to obtain the specimen, O is a specimen obtained by the placer, P is a pending specimen, R is a revised order, S schedules the request. It is how a message says whether a specimen already exists, and an interface that ignores it will re-request collection.
Open OBR-11 in HL7 Studio
OBR-15Specimen Source
Specimen source, describing what the sample is and where it came from. In v2.5.1 this field is marked backward compatible: the SPM segment introduced in this version is the correct place for specimen detail, and OBR-15 remains for senders that have not moved. Read both, prefer SPM where present.
Open OBR-15 in HL7 Studio
OBR-16Ordering Provider
Ordering provider, and one of the fields most often needed downstream because results have to be routed back to whoever asked for them. It repeats, though a single value is the norm.
Open OBR-16 in HL7 Studio
OBR-22Results Rpt/Status Chng - Date/Time +
Results report or status change date and time. This is when the result reached its current status, which is what you want for a "reported at" column, and it moves each time a preliminary result is finalised or corrected.
Open OBR-22 in HL7 Studio
OBR-25Result Status +
Result status, and the field that governs the whole report where OBX-11 governs a single value. O means an order was received, I means a specimen is in the lab, S means a preliminary is scheduled, A means some results are available, P is preliminary, R means results were entered but not verified, F is final, C is a correction, X means the results cannot be obtained. A report can be F while an individual OBX beneath it is still P, so both fields have to be read together, and neither one is authoritative alone.
Open OBR-25 in HL7 Studio
OBR-27Quantity/Timing
Quantity and timing, a TQ, which carries how often and over what interval a repeating order should run. It is deprecated in v2.5.1 in favour of the TQ1 segment, and senders are split between the two. New work should read TQ1 and fall back to OBR-27.
Open OBR-27 in HL7 Studio

Mapping to FHIR

OBR maps to two different resources depending on the direction of the message. In an order it becomes a ServiceRequest: what was asked for, by whom, when. In a result it becomes a DiagnosticReport that references the Observations built from the OBX segments beneath it. The same segment carrying both roles is why a v2-to-FHIR mapping cannot be written per segment in isolation; it has to know what message it is in.

HL7 v2	FHIR R4	Note
OBR-2	ServiceRequest.identifier	type PLAC
OBR-3	ServiceRequest.identifier and DiagnosticReport.identifier	type FILL
OBR-4	ServiceRequest.code and DiagnosticReport.code
OBR-7	DiagnosticReport.effectiveDateTime
OBR-16	ServiceRequest.requester
OBR-22	DiagnosticReport.issued
OBR-25	DiagnosticReport.status

Parsing pitfalls

The placer number is regenerated instead of echoed
OBR-2 belongs to the ordering system and has to come back byte for byte. A filler that reassigns it, or that pads or trims the value, makes every result unmatched at the ordering end.
OBR-25 and OBX-11 assumed to agree
The report status and the individual result status are separate fields at separate levels, and a partially complete report is exactly the case where they differ. Reading only one of them either releases unverified results or holds back finalised ones.
Result time taken from the wrong field
OBR-7 is when the observation was made, OBR-22 is when it was reported, MSH-7 is when the message was sent. For a blood culture these can be four days apart, and choosing the wrong one puts the result on the wrong day of the chart.
Specimen detail read only from OBR-15
v2.5.1 introduced SPM and marked OBR-15 backward compatible. A feed that has moved to SPM leaves OBR-15 empty, and a parser that reads only OBR-15 will report every specimen as unknown.
Assuming one OBR per message
The result group repeats. A single ORU can carry several orders for one patient, each with its own OBX set, and code that takes the first OBR silently discards the rest.

Message types carrying OBR

OBR appears in 28 message structures, belonging to 18 message types.

OBR: Observation request

The shape of one line

Where OBR appears

A whole message

Every field

Field notes

OBR-2Placer Order Number

OBR-3Filler Order Number

OBR-4Universal Service Identifier

OBR-7Observation Date/Time #

OBR-11Specimen Action Code *

OBR-15Specimen Source

OBR-16Ordering Provider

OBR-22Results Rpt/Status Chng - Date/Time +

OBR-25Result Status +

OBR-27Quantity/Timing

Mapping to FHIR

Parsing pitfalls

The placer number is regenerated instead of echoed

OBR-25 and OBX-11 assumed to agree

Result time taken from the wrong field

Specimen detail read only from OBR-15

Assuming one OBR per message

Related

Message types carrying OBR