diff --git a/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_original.md b/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_original.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a900184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_original.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Issue #151: CellMeta.uuid: cell-level join key for external metadata sources
+
+Source: https://github.com/cellpy/cellpy-core/issues/151
+Labels: enhancement
+Captured: 2026-09-26
+
+---
+
+## Context
+
+jepegit/cellpy#784 (Epic M, external metadata sources) adds a `MetadataSource` Protocol and a persisted back-link (`ExternalLink`: `source_name`, `external_id`, `source_uri`) on the cellpy side. The design (cellpy-design-and-development `active/cellpy2-metadata-source-integration.md` §3.3, metadata-plan OQ6) also parks a **cell-level** id — `CellMeta.uuid` — next to the existing `TestMeta.uuid`, so a physical cell can be linked to a lab database record independently of any one test run.
+
+`CellMeta` lives in `cellpycore.metadata.models`, so this is a core-first change (then PyPI release, then cellpy re-pin per jepegit/cellpy Epic S).
+
+## Spec
+
+- Add `uuid: Optional[str] = None` to `CellMeta` (same conventions as `TestMeta.uuid`: minted by the consumer, never required, round-trips through `to_dict` / `from_dict` and the legacy mapping tables as a core-only field).
+- Add `"uuid"` to `meta_mapping.CORE_ONLY_CELL` so `apply_test_meta_to_legacy` in cellpy skips it.
+- Update `docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md` CellMeta table.
+
+## Acceptance
+
+- `CellMeta(uuid="…")` round-trips through the metadata archive helpers.
+- Existing cellpy tests that build `CellMeta()` are unaffected (default `None`).
+- Release note entry; cellpy re-pin tracked in jepegit/cellpy.
diff --git a/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_status.md b/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_status.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e33ea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.issueflows/03-solved-issues/issue151_status.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Status: #151 CellMeta.uuid
+
+- [x] Done
+
+## What was done (2026-09-26)
+
+- `CellMeta.uuid: Optional[str] = None` (docstring: cell-level id, consumer-minted,
+  distinct from `TestMeta.uuid`).
+- `legacy.meta_mapping.CORE_ONLY_CELL` gains `"uuid"` so totality tests hold and
+  cellpy's `apply_test_meta_to_legacy` skips it.
+- Spec table in `docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md` (core-only CellMeta fields).
+- Tests: JSON round-trip + core-only mapping; suite 289 passed, ruff clean.
+- HISTORY.md `[Unreleased]` entry.
+
+## Follow-up (not here)
+
+PyPI release of cellpy-core and cellpy re-pin (jepegit/cellpy Epic S); cellpy's
+BatBase adapter can then set `cell.uuid` from the journal row.
diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 16831ea..7a8ecde 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- `CellMeta.uuid`: optional cell-level id (join key for external metadata sources),
+  core-only in the legacy mapping so `apply_test_meta_to_legacy` skips it. (#151)
+
 ## [0.2.6] - 2026-09-08
 
 - `update_core_data` treats an empty `new_raw` as a no-op (skips the derived refresh
diff --git a/docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md b/docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md
index 21a5b61..3a42496 100644
--- a/docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md
+++ b/docs/specifications/harmonized-raw.md
@@ -152,6 +152,13 @@ geometry) and `CellpyMetaIndividualTest` (test-dependent: `channel_index`, `crea
 full field set; they can sit in `TestMeta` or a sibling `CellMeta` record (decision
 deferred — see the design note).
 
+The `CellMeta` dataclass additionally carries two core-only fields legacy never had:
+
+| Field | Data type | Unit | Sample data | Comment |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| uuid | str(36) | - | "0d1f3a7c-…" | stable, globally-unique id for the **physical cell**, independent of any test run (`TestMeta.uuid` identifies the run); minted by the consumer, e.g. to join the cell to a lab-database record (issue #151, jepegit/cellpy#784) |
+| volume | float | cm**3 | 0.12 | cell / electrode volume for the volumetric specific-capacity mode (issue #117) |
+
 ## Follow-ups
 - **step_types**
   - 'charge', 'discharge', 'rest'
diff --git a/src/cellpycore/legacy/meta_mapping.py b/src/cellpycore/legacy/meta_mapping.py
index 7a63f2d..f6657a5 100644
--- a/src/cellpycore/legacy/meta_mapping.py
+++ b/src/cellpycore/legacy/meta_mapping.py
@@ -141,8 +141,9 @@
 }
 
 # Core fields legacy never had. Migration fills them from context (provenance
-# stamped by the loading framework; ``volume`` is the new volumetric-mode field).
-CORE_ONLY_CELL = frozenset({"volume"})
+# stamped by the loading framework; ``volume`` is the new volumetric-mode field;
+# ``uuid`` is the cell-level join key for external metadata sources, #151).
+CORE_ONLY_CELL = frozenset({"volume", "uuid"})
 CORE_ONLY_TEST = frozenset(
     {
         "uuid",
diff --git a/src/cellpycore/metadata/models.py b/src/cellpycore/metadata/models.py
index 26e003e..b5ce81d 100644
--- a/src/cellpycore/metadata/models.py
+++ b/src/cellpycore/metadata/models.py
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ class CellMeta:
     ``CellMeta()`` is valid scaffolding and carries no obligation to be populated.
 
     Attributes:
+        uuid: Stable, globally-unique id for the physical cell, independent of
+            any one test run (``TestMeta.uuid`` identifies the run). Minted by
+            the consumer — typically to join the cell to a lab-database record
+            (external metadata sources, jepegit/cellpy#784) — never required
+            (issue #151).
         material: Active-material name / identifier.
         mass: Active-material mass.
         tot_mass: Total material mass.
@@ -95,6 +100,7 @@ class CellMeta:
         comment: Free-text comment.
     """
 
+    uuid: Optional[str] = None
     material: Optional[str] = None
     mass: Optional[float] = None
     tot_mass: Optional[float] = None
diff --git a/tests/test_meta_mapping.py b/tests/test_meta_mapping.py
index f0df2b9..6d0dd45 100644
--- a/tests/test_meta_mapping.py
+++ b/tests/test_meta_mapping.py
@@ -168,3 +168,10 @@ class LegacyCommon:
     cell_empty, test_empty = meta_mapping.legacy_meta_to_core(None, None)
     assert cell_empty == CellMeta()
     assert test_empty == TestMeta()
+
+
+def test_cell_uuid_is_core_only():
+    """``CellMeta.uuid`` is never filled from legacy meta (issue #151)."""
+    assert "uuid" in meta_mapping.CORE_ONLY_CELL
+    cell, _ = meta_mapping.legacy_meta_to_core({"mass": 1.0}, {})
+    assert cell.uuid is None
diff --git a/tests/test_metadata.py b/tests/test_metadata.py
index 5eb81c8..047d4fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/test_metadata.py
@@ -117,3 +117,16 @@ def test_merge_without_renumber_raises_on_collision():
 def test_persistence_stubs_raise_not_implemented(call):
     with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
         call()
+
+
+def test_cell_meta_uuid_round_trips_and_defaults_to_none():
+    """CellMeta.uuid is a consumer-minted cell-level id (issue #151)."""
+    assert CellMeta().uuid is None
+    meta = TestMeta(
+        test_id=0,
+        uuid="test-run-uuid",
+        cell=CellMeta(uuid="0d1f3a7c-cell", mass=1.0),
+    )
+    restored = from_json(TestMeta, to_json(meta))
+    assert restored.cell.uuid == "0d1f3a7c-cell"
+    assert restored.uuid == "test-run-uuid"  # test-run id stays separate