[ ~/tmp ] $ perl hl7_conv 
INPUT:   AB\T\F\S\CD\E\E\E\R\R\R
GEN_OUT: AB&F^CD\E\E~R\R
EXP_OUT: AB&F^CD\E\R~R
hl7_conv:   Z z . c8o,  
[ ~/tmp ] $ perl hl7_conv 
INPUT:   AB\T\F\S\CD\E\E\E\R\R\R
GEN_OUT: AB&F^CD\E\R~R
EXP_OUT: AB&F^CD\E\R~R
hl7_conv: SUCCESS!