diff --git a/NIST/traditional/__init__.py b/NIST/traditional/__init__.py
index cbcac309094350946fdce4af9432e113b6cc2662..81670d74db2b6943d97562d87af807b6181127d3 100644
--- a/NIST/traditional/__init__.py
+++ b/NIST/traditional/__init__.py
@@ -1008,6 +1008,18 @@ class NIST( object ):
     # 
     ############################################################################
     
+    def has_field(self, tag, idc = -1):
+        if type( tag ) == str:
+            ntype, tagid = tagSplitter( tag )
+            
+        elif type( tag ) == tuple:
+            ntype, tagid = tag
+        
+        else:
+            raise notImplemented
+        
+        return tag in self.data[ ntype ][ idc ]
+    
     def get_field( self, tag, idc = -1 ):
         """
             Get the content of a specific tag in the NIST object.