HL7 INR_U06 (Automated Equipment Inventory Request) | Integration Soup HL7 Reference Guide

HL7 INR_U06 Automated Equipment Inventory Request

A focused request for what inventory the equipment has available.

HL7 message structure INR_U06 groups and segments from HL7 v2.5.1 Hide structure

These are the generated groups and segments for the version selected at the top of the page. The article explains the workflow, and this panel follows the chosen HL7 version.

Message Structure

Segment	Name	Required	Repeatable
MSH	Message Header	Yes	No
SFT	Software Segment	No	Yes
EQU	Equipment Detail	Yes	No
INV	Inventory Detail	Yes	Yes
ROL	Role	No	No

INR_U06 asks automated equipment for inventory information. A Laboratory Automation System, middleware engine, or monitoring service sends it when it needs the current state of reagents, consumables, waste containers, carriers, or other inventory items managed by the equipment.

The response should be INU_U05, either for the requested inventory item or for all items if the request is intentionally broad.

A small INR U06 example

MSH|^~\&|LAS|CITYHOSP|ANALYZER01|CORELAB|20260723102600||INR^U06^INR_U06|INR060001|P|2.5.1 EQU|ANALYZER01^Chemistry Analyzer 1^CITYHOSP|20260723102600 INV|GLUCREAGENT^Glucose reagent^L|REQ^Requested^L|REAGENT^Reagent^L|BAY3^Reagent bay 3^L

What workflow it represents

Use INR_U06 when a receiver needs a fresh inventory snapshot rather than waiting for unsolicited inventory updates. It is useful after reconnecting to an instrument, before routing a large batch of work, or when an operator is investigating a low-supply warning.

The request can identify one inventory item, a subset, or all items depending on the site profile and how the INV segment is populated.

How to read the structure

MSH identifies the inventory request. Optional SFT can describe the requester. Required EQU identifies the equipment being queried.

Repeating required INV rows identify the inventory item or filter being requested. The response is expected to come back as INU_U05 with inventory details populated.

Implementation traps

Do not assume an empty or broad INV means the same thing at every site. Some instruments treat it as "all inventory"; others need explicit item identifiers.

Make the response contract explicit. If the equipment cannot report an item, decide whether it sends an empty INU_U05, an application error, or an ACK with an ERR segment.

Like ESR_U02, this can be over-polled. Inventory requests are useful for reconciliation, but they should not become constant background noise unless the equipment vendor has designed for that cadence.

Reference notes

HL7 v2+ describes INR_U06 as a request for inventory-item information. The equipment identified in EQU should respond with INU_U05 for the requested inventory item or items.