open (WORK, "<$work_file") or die "Couldn't open $work_file."; # Open the working file

##</code><code>##

use strict;
use warnings;

my $work_file = 'E:\triggers\1_MERGE_3326\tests\20131209_180245424_R01.hl7';
open (WORK, "<$work_file") or die "Couldn't open $work_file : $!";