Message type

Unsolicited specimen shipment manifest

Transmits an unsolicited specimen shipment manifest. The SHP segment carries shipment details and PAC/SPM segments describe the packages and specimens. Receiving laboratories consume this to pre-register incoming specimens.

30segments

13required

5groups

v2.9HL7 version

# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'OSM^R26^OSM_R26|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'SPM|1||BLD^Blood|VENOUS'

# .. parsed into a Python object ..
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

# .. whose fields we can now access.
specimen_type = msg.spm.specimen_type
specimen_id = msg.spm.specimen_id

Python examples

Build and parse OSM^R26 messages in Python

How to construct, send, receive, and extract fields from real-world OSM^R26 messages.

Parse an incoming OSM^R26 message

Demonstrates receiving and extracting key fields from a unsolicited specimen shipment manifest transaction

# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'OSM^R26^OSM_R26|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'SPM|1||BLD^Blood|VENOUS'

# .. parsed into a Python object ..
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

# .. whose fields we can now access.
specimen_type = msg.spm.specimen_type
specimen_id = msg.spm.specimen_id

Tutorials

Learn by building

Step-by-step guides for working with HL7 v2 in Zato.

MLLP

Receive and parse HL7 v2 messages

Set up an MLLP channel, parse incoming messages, and respond with acknowledgments.

Start tutorial Build

Build and send HL7 v2 messages

Construct HL7 v2 messages from scratch using typed segment classes and send them over MLLP.

Start tutorial

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Use the HL7v2 message parser to extract the typed structure. The parsed message gives you direct access to every segment and field by name.

from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FACILITY|RECEIVER|DEST|20260401120000||OSM^R26^OSM_R26|MSG00001|P|2.9'
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

specimen_type = msg.spm.specimen_type
specimen_id = msg.spm.specimen_id

Beyond the mandatory MSH header, the required segments are: SHP, PRT, OBX, PAC, SPM, OBX, SAC, OBX. Optional segments provide additional detail when available.

Zato connects to any system that speaks HL7v2 over MLLP or FHIR over REST. This includes Epic, Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts, and other EHR platforms.

Yes, Zato has built-in MLLP support for sending and receiving HL7v2 messages. MLLP channels handle the framing protocol automatically.

Zato supports HL7 v2.9, which is backward compatible with earlier versions including v2.3, v2.5, and v2.7. Standard segments and datatypes are available as typed Python classes.

Yes. Zato handles both HL7v2 and FHIR natively, so you can parse v2 messages and build FHIR resources with IG-specific extensions in the same service. Typed Python classes are available for both protocols, including extensions from US Core, UK Core, Da Vinci, and other Implementation Guides.

Reference

OSM^R26 segment composition

Segments that make up the OSM^R26 message, in order. Groups are shown with their child segments.

#	Segment	Usage	Repeats	Description	Group
1	`MSH`	Required	No	Message header	-
2	`ARV`	Optional	Yes	Access restriction	-
3	`SFT`	Optional	Yes	Software segment	-
4	`UAC`	Optional	No	User authentication credential	-
5	`SHP`	Required	No	Shipment	SHIPMENT
6	`PRT`	Required	Yes	Participation information	SHIPMENT
7	`OBX`	Required	No	Observation result	SHIPMENT
8	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SHIPMENT
9	`PAC`	Required	No	Shipment package	SHIPMENT
10	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SHIPMENT
11	`SPM`	Required	No	Specimen	SPECIMEN
12	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SPECIMEN
13	`OBX`	Required	No	Observation result	SPECIMEN
14	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SPECIMEN
15	`SAC`	Required	No	Specimen container detail	SPECIMEN
16	`OBX`	Required	No	Observation result	CONTAINER_OBSERVATION
17	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	CONTAINER_OBSERVATION
18	`PID`	Required	No	Patient identification	SPECIMEN
19	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SPECIMEN
20	`ARV`	Optional	Yes	Access restriction	SPECIMEN
21	`OBX`	Required	No	Observation result	PATIENT_OBSERVATION
22	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	PATIENT_OBSERVATION
23	`NK1`	Optional	Yes	Next of kin / associated parties	SPECIMEN
24	`PV1`	Required	No	Patient visit	SPECIMEN
25	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SPECIMEN
26	`OBX`	Required	No	Observation result	PATIENT_VISIT_OBSERVATION
27	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	PATIENT_VISIT_OBSERVATION
28	`PID`	Optional	No	Patient identification	SPECIMEN
29	`PRT`	Optional	Yes	Participation information	SPECIMEN
30	`NK1`	Optional	Yes	Next of kin / associated parties	SPECIMEN

Ready to build integrations?

Get started with Zato and connect your systems in minutes.

Get started ▶Read the docs

Open source In Python