scope:

The scope of the messages specified by this document comprises healthcare service requests and reports related to laboratory and diagnostic investigations [3.28] as well as specialist services [3.35] carried out by healthcare service providers on subjects of care [3.51]. They cover electronic information exchange between computer systems used by healthcare parties requesting the services of, healthcare service providers. This document is applicable to messages requesting healthcare services or reporting results of healthcare services independent of medical specialty. The messages can be used for: - laboratory services, such as clinical biochemistry, clinical microbiology and haematology; - diagnostic services, such as radiology, anatomical pathology and nuclear medicine; - specialist services, such as referral and discharge messages. This document does not specify the manner in which healthcare services are divided between specialties as this varies in accordance with national and local practices. This document is applicable to requests for new investigation or specialist service and also modifications of previously issued requests. It is applicable both to the subject of investigation as well as samples that are obtained from subjects of investigation at the point of care or at any other location and submitted to the healthcare services, and to requests for investigation for which the healthcare service is requested to obtain samples. The subject of investigation can be a person, an animal, a group of animals or a material.