Terminology Bindings

This chapter defines the model meaning binding and value set binding between data elements in the Logical Model and their corresponding SNOMED CT concepts and value sets. These bindings ensure precise alignment between the Logical Model and SNOMED CT, supporting consistent and interoperable representation of laboratory orders, specimens, and results.

Laboratory Order

The laboratory orders represent the request that starts the laboratory process. In the context of this implementation guide for the LOINC Ontology, the recommendation is to use Observable entities for this purpose, selected from a subset that is marked as "Orderable" entities by LOINC.

Attribute	Type	Value Set Binding
code	Structured	< 363787002 |Observable entity (observable entity)| {{ C moduleId = 11010000107 }} AND ^ |Orderable LOINC Concepts|
priority	Structured	< 272125009 |Priorities (qualifier value)|
status	Structured	< 288532009 |Context values for actions (qualifier value)|

Specimen

SNOMED CT includes a hierarchy of specimens and is used to define observable entities in the LOINC Ontology. The specimens used in the LOINC Ontology can be extracted using the SNOMED CT Expression Constraint Language by selecting concepts used as values for the 704327008 |Direct site (attribute)| within the LOINC Ontology.

Attribute	Type	Value Set Binding
code	Structured	(< 363787002 |Observable entity (observable entity)| {{ C moduleId = 11010000107 }} . (704327008 |Direct site (attribute)| OR 704319004 |Inheres in (attribute)|) ) AND ( << 123038009 |Specimen (specimen)|)
collection method	Structured	<<(<<17636008 |Specimen collection (procedure)|.260686004 |Method (attribute)|)

Result

In the results, the codes for tests can be different from those ordered. In cases like "panels", the order concepts are transformed into a set of observable concepts that can be reported as results. The LOINC Ontology identifies a subset of observable concepts that are valid to report as "observed" results.

Attribute	Type/Note	Value Set Binding
Test code	Structured	< 363787002 |Observable entity (observable entity)| {{ C moduleId = 11010000107 }} AND ^ |Observable LOINC Concepts|
Value	Unstructured	N/A
Structured	Variable: depends on each observable.
Reference Range	Unstructured	N/A
Units	Structured	<< 767525000 |Unit (qualifier value)|
Interpretation	Structured	Variable: depends on each observable.
Status	Structured	< 288532009 |Context values for actions (qualifier value)|

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