Overview

This section describes SNOMED CT Release Format 2 (RF2), to be used for official production releases of SNOMED CT. This format is not mandated for internal terminology development usage or as an interchange mechanism between terminology development systems. RF2 provides a format that is flexible, unambiguous and useful. It was designed to strengthen SNOMED CT by providing a simple and stable format that enables innovation through adaptations to cater for changing requirements.

The component release files are defined in the following sections:

• Associations Between Release Files

• File Format Specifications

• Metadata Hierarchy

_{This specification was developed by harmonizing proposals reviewed by IHTSDO Enhanced Release Format Project Group, including:}

• _{Enhanced Release Format Specification (SNOMED International Proposed Specification , 21 June 2007);}

• _{Reference Set Specification (SNOMED International Proposed Specification , 31 July 2007);}

• _{Alternate Release Format (proposed by NEHTA and their Australian Affiliates).}