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Message type

Specimen status update

Reports a specimen status update from automated laboratory equipment. The EQU segment identifies the equipment and SAC segments carry specimen container status details.

12segments
4required
1group
v2.9HL7 version
ssu-u03.py
# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'SSU^U03^SSU_U03|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'EQU|EQ001|20260701|PU^Powered up\r' \
      'SAC||||SAC001|||||50|uL'

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

# .. whose fields we can now access.
equipment_id = msg.equ.equipment_instance_identifier
event_time = msg.equ.event_date_time
container_id = msg.sac.container_identifier
volume = msg.sac.available_specimen_volume

Build and parse SSU^U03 messages in Python

How to construct, send, receive, and extract fields from real-world SSU^U03 messages.

1

Parse an incoming SSU^U03 message

Demonstrates receiving and extracting key fields from a specimen status update transaction

# Zato
from zato.hl7v2 import HL7Message

# An incoming message ..
raw = 'MSH|^~\&|SENDER|FAC|RCV|DEST|20260701||' \
      'SSU^U03^SSU_U03|MSG001|P|2.9\r' \
      'EQU|EQ001|20260701|PU^Powered up\r' \
      'SAC||||SAC001|||||50|uL'

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

# .. whose fields we can now access.
equipment_id = msg.equ.equipment_instance_identifier
event_time = msg.equ.event_date_time
container_id = msg.sac.container_identifier
volume = msg.sac.available_specimen_volume

Learn by building

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

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||SSU^U03^SSU_U03|MSG00001|P|2.9\rEQU|ANALYZER-001|20260401120000\rROL|1|AD|AT^Attending^HL70443|1234^CHEN^DAVID^L^^^MD'
msg = HL7Message.parse(raw)

equipment_id = msg.equ.equipment_instance_identifier
event_time = msg.equ.event_date_time

Beyond the mandatory MSH header, the required segments are: EQU, SAC, SPM. 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.

SSU^U03 segment composition

Segments that make up the SSU^U03 message, in order. Groups are shown with their child segments.

#SegmentUsageRepeatsDescriptionGroup
1MSHRequiredNoMessage header-
2SFTOptionalYesSoftware segment-
3UACOptionalNoUser authentication credential-
4EQURequiredNoEquipment detail-
5SACRequiredNoSpecimen container detailSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
6OBXOptionalYesObservation resultSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
7NTEOptionalYesNotes and commentsSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
8PRTOptionalYesParticipation informationSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
9SPMRequiredNoSpecimenSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
10OBXOptionalYesObservation resultSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
11PRTOptionalYesParticipation informationSPECIMEN_CONTAINER
12ROLOptionalNoRole-

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Open source In Python