> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.snomed.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.snomed.org/implementation-guides/loinc-implementation-guide/content-development/loinc-feature-transformation/discouraged-loinc-concepts.md).

# Discouraged LOINC Concepts

In the LOINC distribution csv file, the column "status" can indicate a number of concept states:

* ACTIVE
* TRIAL
* DISCOURAGED
* DEPRECATED

&#x20;For example, <https://loinc.org/6487-3> has a status of 'DISCOURAGED'.

The equivalent property in SNOMED CT concepts, is the "active" flag, but this can only take a 1 or 0 value, which maps to the ACTIVE and DEPRECATED LOINC statuses respectively.

TRAIL concepts are considered available for use, and so this status is not expressed in the SNOMED CT transformation of LOINC concepts.

DISCOURAGED, however, is represented using an Annotation (starting from Release 2.0 Effective Time 20250921).   These are expressed in the ComponentAnnotation file eg der2\_scsRefset\_ComponentAnnotationStringValueSnapshot\_LO1010000\_20250921.txt with the column for *referencedComponentId* set to the SCTID of the relevant concept, and the annotation text "Discouraged" in the *value* column.

In the LOINC SNOMED Browser, this annotation is represented on the "details" tab:

<figure><img src="/files/q2MDCz2Drrru2m61rKKB" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.snomed.org/implementation-guides/loinc-implementation-guide/content-development/loinc-feature-transformation/discouraged-loinc-concepts.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
