# Carat for System **URL:** \ **Category:** general-discussion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/carat-for-system/1144 "2022-03-08T19:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maiio\_2021](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@maiio\_2021](https://forum.loinc.org/u/maiio_2021)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/carat-for-system/1144/1 "2022-03-08T19:02:43Z")
Hello, I’m a bit new here. To my understanding, for SYSTEM the carat “^” is used to identify the setting/from where the measurement was taken when not the patient (e.g. ^Fetus). If that’s the case, can someone then please explain to me when it is used FOR the patient like so: ^Patient? I mean, shouldn’t that be the case by default when not specified? Thank you, ---
**Author:** ![pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/u/pdbanning)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2022, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/carat-for-system/1144/2 "2022-03-09T10:10:10Z")
Hello May & Welcome to the Forum! ^Patient refers to an observation of the entire patient, not something that was drawn, voided or biopsied from them. Typical measurements such as their age, date of birth, patient history, etc will use ^Patient as the system. A similar example is information about an organ donor. The system of ^Donor is used in organ donor ID, organ type, etc. Hope this helps! Pam ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.loinc.org/uploads/default/original/1X/dbab97ce9b2987d788a376e254fcaae249f3b672.png) [@system](https://forum.loinc.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/carat-for-system/1144/3 "2023-06-23T15:36:50Z")