HL7 CF Coded Element with Formatted Values
HL7 datatype components CF components from HL7 v2.5.1 Hide components
These are the generated components for the version selected at the top of the page. The article stays practical, and this panel follows the chosen HL7 version.
Components
| Pos | Component | Name | Type | Table | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF.1 | Identifier | ST | Identifier; Type ST. | |
| 2 | CF.2 | Formatted Text | FT | Formatted Text; Type FT. | |
| 3 | CF.3 | Name of Coding System | ID | 0396 | Name of Coding System; Type ID; HL7 table 0396. |
| 4 | CF.4 | Alternate Identifier | ST | Alternate Identifier; Type ST. | |
| 5 | CF.5 | Alternate Formatted Text | FT | Alternate Formatted Text; Type FT. | |
| 6 | CF.6 | Name of Alternate Coding System | ID | 0396 | Name of Alternate Coding System; Type ID; HL7 table 0396. |
CF is a coded element where the text components can contain formatted text. It shows up when a code needs the usual identifier/text/coding-system structure, but the display text may need HL7 formatted text behavior.
You may not see CF often in ordinary ADT, order, or result feeds. When it does appear, let the field definition and local implementation guide drive how much of it to populate.
The component panel above is expanded by default because most datatype pages are used as quick lookup pages. Start there for the exact HL7 v2.5.1 shape, then use the notes below for the practical gotchas.
CF-1 to CF-6: Component Quick Read
The generated component panel above is the formal quick lookup. The short version is below so you can scan the shape without counting carets by eye.
The table-backed components here are CF-3, CF-6. Keep those values to the table or value set your implementation guide names, especially when the field is crossing organization boundaries.
- CF-1 Identifier - Identifier. Type ST.
- CF-2 Formatted Text - Formatted Text. Type FT.
- CF-3 Name of Coding System - Name of Coding System. Type ID. Table 0396.
- CF-4 Alternate Identifier - Alternate Identifier. Type ST.
- CF-5 Alternate Formatted Text - Alternate Formatted Text. Type FT.
- CF-6 Name of Alternate Coding System - Name of Alternate Coding System. Type ID. Table 0396.
Practical Notes
The common trap is treating CF as friendly display text. It is a code. The receiving system usually keys off the value and table, so keep the local description, screen label, and mapped code separate in your interface design.
In HL7 Soup Web, click a field that uses CF and the interpretation view will show which component you are sitting in and where that value lives in the raw message. That is especially handy with compact datatypes because one missing caret can move every value after it.
Official and Reference Notes
For formal reference, compare the generated HL7 v2.5.1 panel above with the HL7 v2.5.1 datatype list and the HL7 Terminology data type code system. Local implementation guides can narrow allowed values, tables, and component usage.