PHIN MQF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The PHIN Message Quality Framework (PHIN MQF) is a flexible framework of services and utilities designed to assist public health partners with preparing and communicating quality, standard electronic messages as defined by the applicable messaging, vocabulary, and programmatic standards. The PHIN MQF application is designed to accompany and to assist other CDC Public Health systems and partners in promoting the use of data and information system standards to advance the development of efficient, integrated, and interoperable surveillance systems at federal, state, and local levels.

The PHIN Message Quality Framework (PHIN MQF) is a Web application, which enables users to load HL7 messages for structural, and message mapping Guide-constrained validation through the following methods:

• Sample (a pre-defined example message that is built into PHIN MQF)
• Cut and Paste Message (a message you Cut and Paste into the Message Validation area)
• File (a message that you browse for and load from your local system or network)

Once an HL7 message is loaded, a user may then edit the message in the PHIN MQF Validation Message Text area. Users are able to view a detailed validation report immediately after the message has been submitted. Users may continue editing and submitting until all errors have been corrected.

The first validation level is Message Structural, which validates the submitted message against the PHIN HL7 Version 2.5 Messaging Standard National Condition Reporting Case Notification specification. Message Structural Validation includes the following edits. The Structural Validation is based upon the following components.

• Abstract Message Structure - Order of segments’ within the message are per specification.
• Cardinality of Segment groups within the message - Segment group repetitions are per specification.
• Required Segment groups within the message - Required segment groups are per specifications

The current PHIN MQF Release 2.0 supports Structural Validation for the following activities:

• The Nationally Notifiable Disease Case Notification (NND CN) Project
• The Public Health Lab Interoperability Project (PHLIP) Project
• Meaningful use public health objectives – ELR, Immunization, Syndromic Surveillance

See the Supported Specifications link on the left navigation panel of the PHIN MQF application for further detailed information.

The Message Vocabulary validation level validates the submitted message against vocabulary standards that are defined in their respective message-mapping guides. This Vocabulary Validation is accomplished through a real-time interface with the PHIN VADS System. PHIN MQF Message Vocabulary Validation verifies the submitted value and corresponding coding system OIDs are valid per the value set specified in the Message Specification. All elements that have Message Specification-defined vocabulary are considered for vocabulary validation. The current MQF PHIN Release 2.0 supports Vocabulary Validation for

• Tuberculosis Case Notification Message Mapping Guide, Version 2.0, 01/09/2009.
• APHL – CDC PHLIP Messaging Guide for Influenza Test Result Reporting by Public Health Laboratories, ORU R01 HL7 v2.3.1, Document version 1.0.2, Sept. 15, 2009

PHIN MQF performs Message Constraint Validation and validates the submitted message against the appropriate mapping guides. Message Constraint Validation includes the following edits:

• Validation of data types for data elements carried by OBX Segments
• Existence of required UIDs within the message
• Existence of value for the required UID in the message
• Lengths of specific data elements in the message per program requirements
• Check if a data element has only supported set of values

The design of PHIN MQF provides entire message validation. Currently, PHIN MQF does not validate ‘single segment validation’ within a message. Therefore, the message must include all segments and required fields in order to perform a successful validation.

In order to bookmark PHIN MQF successfully, you must bookmark the Home page prior to a timeout that has occurred. If PHIN MQF is bookmarked following a timeout, an error message displays which states that an application timeout is encountered.

You must open a new URL with the correct, production URL default, which is https://phinmqf.cdc.gov/.

Currently, PHIN MQF does not support complete datetime format validation: HL7-Defined and message specification supported datetime format or YYYY[MM[DD[HH[mm[SS[.S]S]S]S]]]]]][+/-ZZZZ].

Production Software Deployments for PHIN MQF are currently twice a year. PHIN MQF also has content releases that are deployed on an as needed basis.

Send an email to phinmqfsupport@cdc.gov. Your email will be reviewed the same business day and a response will be sent to you on a resolution for your issue or you may be asked for additional information.

PHIN MQF currently supports ELR, Immunization, and Syndromic Surveillance for Meaningful Use. For a complete list of message profiles supported click on the Supported Specification link on the left navigation panel of the PHIN MQF System.

PHIN MQF conformance profiles can be downloaded by clicking on the Profiles link on the left navigation panel of the PHIN MQF system or by clicking the following link https://phinmqf.cdc.gov/DownLoad.aspx.