HL7 CNN Composite ID and Name Simplified
HL7 datatype components CNN 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 | CNN.1 | ID Number | ST | ID Number; Type ST. | |
| 2 | CNN.2 | Family Name | ST | Family Name; Type ST. | |
| 3 | CNN.3 | Given Name | ST | Given Name; Type ST. | |
| 4 | CNN.4 | Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof | ST | Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof; Type ST. | |
| 5 | CNN.5 | Suffix (e.g., JR or III) | ST | Suffix (e.g., JR or III); Type ST. | |
| 6 | CNN.6 | Prefix (e.g., DR) | ST | Prefix (e.g., DR); Type ST. | |
| 7 | CNN.7 | Degree (e.g., MD | IS | 0360 | Degree (e.g., MD; Type IS; HL7 table 0360. |
| 8 | CNN.8 | Source Table | IS | 0297 | Source Table; Type IS; HL7 table 0297. |
| 9 | CNN.9 | Assigning Authority - Namespace ID | IS | 0363 | Assigning Authority - Namespace ID; Type IS; HL7 table 0363. |
| 10 | CNN.10 | Assigning Authority - Universal ID | ST | Assigning Authority - Universal ID; Type ST. | |
| 11 | CNN.11 | Assigning Authority - Universal ID Type | ID | 0301 | Assigning Authority - Universal ID Type; Type ID; HL7 table 0301. |
CNN is a simplified person identifier and name composite. It is mainly a compatibility shape around older order provider fields. Newer interfaces more often use XCN, but CNN still appears in older order/result structures.
In this guide, CNN appears in NDL. That used-by list is a good reality check: the datatype is only half the story, and the field that uses it tells you the workflow.
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.
CNN-1 to CNN-11: 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 CNN-7, CNN-8, CNN-9, CNN-11. Keep those values to the table or value set your implementation guide names, especially when the field is crossing organization boundaries.
- CNN-1 ID Number - ID Number. Type ST.
- CNN-2 Family Name - Family Name. Type ST.
- CNN-3 Given Name - Given Name. Type ST.
- CNN-4 Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof - Second and Further Given Names or Initials Thereof. Type ST.
- CNN-5 Suffix (e.g., JR or III) - Suffix (e.g., JR or III). Type ST.
- CNN-6 Prefix (e.g., DR) - Prefix (e.g., DR). Type ST.
- CNN-7 Degree (e.g., MD - Degree (e.g., MD. Type IS. Table 0360.
- CNN-8 Source Table - Source Table. Type IS. Table 0297.
- CNN-9 Assigning Authority - Namespace ID - Assigning Authority - Namespace ID. Type IS. Table 0363.
- CNN-10 Assigning Authority - Universal ID - Assigning Authority - Universal ID. Type ST.
- CNN-11 Assigning Authority - Universal ID Type - Assigning Authority - Universal ID Type. Type ID. Table 0301.
Practical Notes
Text still has to survive HL7 delimiters. If the source value can contain |, ^, ~, &, or a backslash, encode it before putting it into the message. Integration Soup and the HL7 parser helpers include HL7Encode and HL7Decode for that exact kind of cleanup.
In HL7 Soup Web, click a field that uses CNN 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.