The SN.3 (Separator/Suffix) component allows a suffix value of "+" to indicate a positive categorical response. This is no longer considered a good practice for observation reporting and that value should be deprecated. The HL7 Version 2.5.1 Implementation Guide: Laboratory Results Interface Release 1 doesn't contain any specific examples of using that suffix. The recommended best practice now for reporting a positive value for any ordinal observation is to use a coded value such as SNOMED CT code 10828004 (Positive) and/or LOINC Answer ID LA6576-8

We might want to check with the OO work group before making this change.

Since "+" is the only listed suffix value then if we deprecate that value we should also rename this component as just "Separator".