1 Scope

This document specifies a common data exchange format (i.e. format of the messages and the dictionary of all the items that compose the message) between the prescribers and the laboratories in the animal health sector.

This document is intended for prescribers (purchasers) and service providers in charge of collecting samples and conducting analyses (including laboratories) who are interested in computerizing and standardizing their data exchanges, particularly in the animal health sector.

This document excludes the code lists that are required for unambiguous data exchange.

6 Scope of the exchanges

The scope of exchanges of the animal health e-Labs format covers veterinary analytical services, including sampling and quantitative or qualitative analyses of all types. Several exchange configurations can be managed, according to the number of parties in the exchanges: prescribers, samplers, first-line laboratories (e.g. for screening analyses), second-line laboratories (e.g. for confirmation of analyses) and the computerized management of service requests.

Exchanges related to invoicing or pricing are not modelled in the animal health e-Labs format.