FHIR DiagnosticReport Resource (R4)

DiagnosticReport groups the findings and interpretation of diagnostic tests: a lab panel, an imaging study report, a pathology report. Element table, search parameters, example JSON and FHIRPath for FHIR R4.

FHIR DiagnosticReport Resource (R4) — part of the free FHIR Toolbox library.
Runs entirely in your browser: your FHIR data is never uploaded to a server.

Overview

DiagnosticReport groups the findings and interpretation of diagnostic tests: a lab panel, an imaging study report, a pathology report. Individual results are Observations referenced from result; the report adds status, category, issued time, performer, conclusion and optionally a presented form such as a PDF.

Elements

Element	Type	Cardinality	Description
DiagnosticReport.identifier	Identifier	0..*	Business identifier for report
DiagnosticReport.basedOn	Reference	0..*	What was requested
DiagnosticReport.status	code	1..1	registered \| partial \| preliminary \| final +
DiagnosticReport.category	CodeableConcept	0..*	Service category
DiagnosticReport.code	CodeableConcept	1..1	Name/Code for this diagnostic report
DiagnosticReport.subject	Reference	0..1	The subject of the report - usually, but not always, the patient
DiagnosticReport.encounter	Reference	0..1	Health care event when test ordered
DiagnosticReport.effective[x]	dateTime \| Period	0..1	Clinically relevant time/time-period for report
DiagnosticReport.issued	instant	0..1	DateTime this version was made
DiagnosticReport.performer	Reference	0..*	Responsible Diagnostic Service
DiagnosticReport.resultsInterpreter	Reference	0..*	Primary result interpreter
DiagnosticReport.specimen	Reference	0..*	Specimens this report is based on
DiagnosticReport.result	Reference	0..*	Observations
DiagnosticReport.imagingStudy	Reference	0..*	Reference to full details of imaging associated with the diagnostic report
DiagnosticReport.media	BackboneElement	0..*	Key images associated with this report
DiagnosticReport.media.id	String	0..1	Unique id for inter-element referencing
DiagnosticReport.media.extension	Extension	0..*	Additional content defined by implementations
DiagnosticReport.media.modifierExtension	Extension	0..*	Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
DiagnosticReport.media.comment	string	0..1	Comment about the image (e.g. explanation)
DiagnosticReport.media.link	Reference	1..1	Reference to the image source
DiagnosticReport.conclusion	string	0..1	Clinical conclusion (interpretation) of test results
DiagnosticReport.conclusionCode	CodeableConcept	0..*	Codes for the clinical conclusion of test results
DiagnosticReport.presentedForm	Attachment	0..*	Entire report as issued

Example JSON (R4)

{
  "resourceType": "DiagnosticReport",
  "id": "example",
  "status": "final",
  "category": [
    {
      "coding": [
        {
          "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/v2-0074",
          "code": "LAB"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "code": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://loinc.org",
        "code": "58410-2",
        "display": "CBC panel - Blood by Automated count"
      }
    ]
  },
  "subject": {
    "reference": "Patient/example"
  },
  "effectiveDateTime": "2024-05-01T09:30:00Z",
  "issued": "2024-05-01T12:00:00Z",
  "result": [
    {
      "reference": "Observation/hemoglobin"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Observation/wbc"
    }
  ],
  "conclusion": "Results within normal limits."
}

FHIRPath

DiagnosticReport.result.reference — References to the result Observations
DiagnosticReport.code.coding.code — Report code
DiagnosticReport.conclusion — Narrative conclusion

Common validation errors

Embedding result values in the report. Results are Observations; DiagnosticReport.result only references them.
Omitting status or code, both required.
Sending issued as a date only. It is an instant and needs a time and timezone.
Referencing Observations that are not in the same Bundle or not resolvable by the receiver.

FHIR Toolbox is a free, privacy-first collection of HL7 FHIR utilities by Omindra Labs. Every tool performs zero-server processing — your health data never leaves your device.