By MedeilPlus Editorial Team17 October 2026•3 min read

HL7 and FHIR for Clinic Labs: A Plain-English Guide

When a clinic lab sends results to an EMR, the two systems need a common language. HL7 and FHIR are the standards most often used for that purpose. You do not need to be a developer to understand them, but you should know what they do and what to ask.

HL7 v2: the older workhorse

HL7 version 2 is a message format used for decades in hospitals and labs. It sends orders and results as text messages with fields separated by special characters. It is widely supported and still common, but its messages are less structured than newer formats.

FHIR: a modern, resource-based standard

FHIR, from HL7, describes healthcare data as named resources, such as a patient, an order or an observation. Each resource has defined fields, and it can be sent over web technology. FHIR is designed for modern apps and for sharing data between organisations.

What both standards do in a clinic lab

Carry a lab order from the EMR to the lab

Send a sample status or a result back to the EMR

Identify the patient and the test, so results are matched correctly

Carry the clinical context, such as the reason for the test

Why the difference matters

A lab that supports only HL7 v2 may need a translation step to work with a FHIR-based system. A FHIR-first system may need a bridge to talk to older equipment. Ask which standards each system supports today, and how the link is maintained.

Questions to ask a vendor

Which HL7 message types and FHIR resources are supported today?

Is the interface live with a real lab, or only documented?

How are patient identifiers matched between systems?

Who maintains the interface when either system is upgraded?

What happens when a result fails to arrive?

Practical checks before go-live

Send test orders and check that each arrives with the right patient and test

Send test results and check that each appears on the right record

Check the abnormal flags and units carry across

Agree who fixes a failed message, and how quickly

Where MedeilPlus fits

MedeilPlus uses interoperability standards in its platform, including FHIR, and supports integration work for clinics and hospitals. Confirm the exact interfaces, the standards and the live connections for your lab in a demo, and do not assume a connection until it has been tested with your own equipment and lab. For the order-to-result workflow, read lab orders in clinic EMR.

Frequently asked questions

Is FHIR better than HL7?

FHIR is newer and more structured for modern applications. HL7 v2 is still widely used. Many systems support both, so ask what your lab needs.

Do small clinic labs need FHIR?

Not always. Ask what your EMR and lab systems support, and whether the link you need is already built and tested.

Who sets up the interface?

Usually the vendors, with support from your IT provider. Agree responsibilities in writing before the work starts.

Thanks for Reading

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