Namespaces
Namespaces
The design of SNOMED CT specifies that all components (concepts, descriptions and relationships) are identified using SCTIDs. This is true for both components in the International Edition, and components in an extension. Extension producers therefore need a mechanism to ensure that their component identifiers are globally unique, and do not collide with the SCTIDs generated by other organizations. The SNOMED CT namespace identifier provides this mechanism. The namespace identifier ensures that all components within an extension are properly and uniquely identified, both locally and globally.
Prior to creating an extension, each organization must obtain a unique namespace identifier from SNOMED International (see http://snomed.org/changeadd). Once the namespace identifier is issued, SNOMED International authorizes the allocated organization to generate SCTIDs within their allocated namespace to identify extension components. Each SNOMED CT namespace identifier is 7 digits in length. By including this 7 digit identifier in the appropriate position within an SCTID, and maintaining locally unique item identifiers, global uniqueness of SCTIDs can be ensured.
Examples
The table below lists some examples of namespace identifiers and the organizations to which they are allocated. These organizations include National Release Centers (or NRCs), local organizations, and commercial vendors. Note that this table is an excerpt from the SNOMED CT Namespace Registry as of October, 2017.
Table: Examples of namespace identifiers
1000124
National Library of Medicine (USA) – IHTSDO Member
1000087
Canada Health Infoway (Canada) – IHTSDO Member
1000052
National Board of Health and Welfare (Sweden) – IHTSDO Member
1000119
Kaiser Permanente
1000129
B2i International LLC
The image below illustrates the structure of an extension SCTID using the concept 5281000124103 | Persistent asthma| from the 20170301 US Edition of SNOMED CT. The structure of the SCTID has been labeled and the namespace identifier is shown in red. Note that the spaces do not form part of the SCTID and have been added to improve readability.
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