One or more codes specifying a rough qualitative interpretation of the observation, such as "normal", "abnormal", "below normal", "change up", "resistant", "susceptible", etc.

Change of quantity and/or severity. At most one of B or W and one of U or D allowed.

Better (of severity or nominal observations)

Significant change down (quantitative observations, does not imply B or W)

Significant change up (quantitative observations, does not imply B or W)

Worse (of severity or nominal observations)

Technical exceptions. At most one allowed. Does not imply normality or severity.

Below absolute low-off instrument scale. This is statement depending on the instrument, logically does not imply LL or L (e.g., if the instrument is inadequate). If an off-scale value is also low or critically low one must also report L and LL respectively.

Above absolute high-off instrument scale. This is statement depending on the instrument, logically does not imply LL or L (e.g., if the instrument is inadequate). If an off-scale value is also high or critically high one must also report H and HH respectively.

Normality, Abnormality, Alert. Concepts in this category are mutually exclusive, i.e., at most one is allowed.

Abnormal (for nominal observations, all service types)

Abnormal alert (for nominal observations and all service types)

Above upper alert threshold (for quantitative observations)

Below lower alert threshold (for quantitative observations)

Above high normal (for quantitative observations)

Above upper alert threshold (for quantitative observations)

Below low normal (for quantitative observations)

Below lower alert threshold (for quantitative observations)

Normal (for all service types)

Microbiology: interpretations of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. At most one allowed.

Intermediate

Moderately susceptible

Resistent

Susceptible

Very susceptible