Representing Laboratory Tests

Type	Standard / Implementation Specification	Standards Process Maturity	Implementation Maturity	Adoption Level	Federally required	Cost	Test Tool Availability
Standard for observations	LOINC®	Final	Production		Yes	Free	N/A
Standard for observation values	SNOMED CT®	Final	Production		Yes	Free	N/A

Limitations, Dependencies, and Preconditions for Consideration	Applicable Value Set(s) and Starter Set(s)
Laboratory test and observation work in conjunction with values or results which can be answered numerically or categorically. If the value/result/answer to a laboratory test and observation is categorical that answer should be represented with the SNOMED CT® terminology. A single laboratory test with a single result will have the same LOINC® code for the order and the result or may have a more specific code in the result (for example if the order code was method less or did not declare the system property). A panel order will have an order LOINC® code and multiple result LOINC® terms for each result in the panel. Guidance is available for using SNOMED CT® and LOINC® together. LOINC code availability is contingent on assignment by Regenstrief. For more information about representing laboratory tests as a procedure, see the Representing Medical Procedures page. See LOINC projects in the Interoperability Proving Ground. For more information about observations and observation values, see Appendix III for an informational resource developed by the Health IT Standards Committee.	LOINC Top 2000+ Lab Observations - US Version OID: 1.3.6.1.4.1.12009.10.2.3

Limitations, Dependencies, and Preconditions for Consideration

Applicable Value Set(s) and Starter Set(s)

Laboratory test and observation work in conjunction with values or results which can be answered numerically or categorically. If the value/result/answer to a laboratory test and observation is categorical that answer should be represented with the SNOMED CT® terminology.
A single laboratory test with a single result will have the same LOINC® code for the order and the result or may have a more specific code in the result (for example if the order code was method less or did not declare the system property). A panel order will have an order LOINC® code and multiple result LOINC® terms for each result in the panel.
Guidance is available for using SNOMED CT® and LOINC® together.
LOINC code availability is contingent on assignment by Regenstrief.
For more information about representing laboratory tests as a procedure, see the Representing Medical Procedures page.
See LOINC projects in the Interoperability Proving Ground.
For more information about observations and observation values, see Appendix III for an informational resource developed by the Health IT Standards Committee.

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