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: Hospital Admission Date

Published: August 9, 2026Updated: August 16, 2026

: Hospital admission date is documentation of the calendar date on which a patient was admitted to a hospital for inpatient care. This is administrative rather than a laboratory measurement.

Quick summary

[": The hospital admission date is a documentation element used for records, billing, and care coordination, not a lab test result."]

Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial TeamLast reviewed August 16, 2026Editorial policy

Key facts at a glance

LOINC
8656-1
Short code
HOSPITALADMISSIONDATE
Synonyms
—
Category
chemistry
Sample
serum
Container
Red-top tube (SST)
Units
N/A
Fasting
false
Population
adult
Sex
all
Age range
18–65 years
Specimen volume
5 mL
Stability
Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
Hemolysis max
500
Lipemia max
1000
Icterus max
500
TAT
4–24 hours
Order
routine

: What This Information Represents

: This entry records the date a patient began an inpatient hospital stay. It is typically captured from admission records rather than from a blood or body fluid specimen, and it serves as a key reference point for the patient's care timeline.

: Why the Date Is Recorded

: Health systems use the admission date to organize medical records, coordinate care between departments, support billing and insurance claims, and track quality measures such as length of stay and readmissions.

: How It Differs From a Laboratory Test

: Unlike a laboratory test, this information does not involve collecting a specimen or measuring a substance in the body. It does not produce a numeric result with a reference range and should not be interpreted as a clinical finding.

: How It May Be Used

: The admission date can help verify eligibility for certain services, calculate how long a patient stayed in the hospital, and support public health reporting. Accuracy depends on correct entry in the hospital record system.

Clinical interpretation

How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.

◆Associated findings1

Short name

: NONE

Frequently asked questions

: Is the hospital admission date a laboratory test?
: No. It is a documentation or administrative element that records when inpatient care began. It does not involve a specimen or a measured result.
: Who uses the hospital admission date?
: Hospitals, clinicians, billing staff, insurers, and quality programs use it to organize records, coordinate care, process claims, and track metrics like length of stay and readmissions.
: Does the admission date affect my medical care?
: It can indirectly affect care by supporting accurate records, billing, and tracking of your hospital course. It is not used to diagnose or monitor a medical condition the way a lab test would be.
  1. 1
    MedlinePlus — Laboratory TestsSource
  2. 2
    Lab Tests OnlineSource
  3. 3
    Mayo Clinic — Tests & ProceduresSource

Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy