pCLOCD Table Structure: Data Element Definitions

Colour Legend

Content Columns

Notes

LOINC ® Code

Reference code into the LOINC framework

LOINC Part Attribute English

Attribute drawn from the LOINC framework based on the selected code.  Note that newly proposed codes will have proposed values in the LOINC fields.

LOINC Part Attribute French

Canadian French translation of attribute drawn from the LOINC framework based on the selected code.  Note that newly proposed codes will have proposed values in the  LOINC fields.

pCLOCD General Content

Attributes reflect Canadian customization of LOINC core part attributes.

Administrative information

Implementers may refer to information in these attributes for Change Control information about the codes

Supplemental Information

Information provided in these attributes is intended as guidance and may be used as is or modified for specific implementation

SDO Administrative Information

Used to track information pertaining to SDO interaction.

pCLOCD Data Elements (Attributes)

Attribute Description

The LOINC code or the pCLOCD code is the unique identifier for each test record.  This code has no intrinsic structure except that the last character is a mod 10-check digit.    This is the code that systems are expected to use to identify test results in electronic reports.  Most record codes are LOINC Generated.  The new record codes are prefaced by "XCA" and will be submitted to Regenstrief for approval.

This field indicates the pCLOCD release number and the corresponding LOINC release number, if applicable—in which the record was originally released or last updated.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains the pan-Canadian "English" Component Name. The name either directly reflects the LOINC Component Name or is derived from that name but has been customized to terms commonly used in Canada following the editorial rules. This name may be blank in situations where the Component Name should not form part of the pan-Canadian Display Name.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains the pan-Canadian "French" Component Name.  The name either directly reflects the FR LOINC Component Name or is derived from that name but customized to terms commonly used in Canada following the editorial rules. This name may be blank in situations where the Component Name should not form part of the pan-Canadian FR Display Name.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains the suggested fully extended English name that is based on the English pan-Canadian Component Name and any augmented attributes (System, Property, Time, Method) that have been indicated as "yes".  It can be used by systems to display or search for a test description (name). It is used in pan-Canadian conformant messages.

N.B. This display name is algorithmically "generated" by concatenating LOINC elements such as SYSTEM, PROPERTY, METHOD_TYP or TIME_ASPCT to the pan-Canadian Component Name; each LOINC element is separated by a semi-colon and "translated" in accordance with the Substitutions table found in the CLMS.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains the suggested fully extended French name that is based on the Component and any augmented attributes that have been indicated as "yes".  It can be used by systems to display or search for a test description (name).   It is used in pan-Canadian conformant messages.

N.B. This display name is algorithmically "generated" by concatenating LOINC elements such as SYSTEM, PROPERTY, METHOD_TYP or TIME_ASPCT to the pan-Canadian Component Name; each LOINC element is separated by a semi-colon and "translated" in accordance with the translation table outlined in the associated tab in this worksheet.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains an example English viewer name that is based on the Infoway Guiding Principles and Rules for Creating pan-Cdn Lab iEHR Viewer Names. It can be used to provide nomenclature for any jurisdictional viewer, but must not be used for pan Canadian Messaging or mapping of LIS test catalogues. It is published as an example for implementers.

This pan-Canadian attribute contains an example French viewer name that is based on the Infoway Guiding Principles and Rules for Creating pan-Cdn Lab iEHR Viewer Names. It can be used to provide nomenclature for any jurisdictional viewer, but must not be used for pan Canadian Messaging or mapping of LIS test catalogues. It is published as an example for implementers.

This attribute defines the term based on the LOINC attribute "Order_Obs" that categorizes the term as Orders only (O), Result only (R) which in LOINC is defined as Observation or both Orders and Results (B ). It is not a definitional attribute of the term but represents a best approximation of how the term is used. Changes to this attribute are welcome but not tracked. This field reflects our best approximation of the terms intended use; it is not to be considered normative or a binding resolution. 

This attribute indicates if the test result value is text, numeric, coded or date/time in format.  Please consult the implementation guidance in the "Result Value Type" section on the applicable HL7 V3 data type to be used when reporting various result value types.

This attribute indicates if the record applies to supporting clinical information.

This attribute provides a best effort to indicate if the record applies for use in the Sensitivity Result event (S) or the Pathology Result event (P) or both (SP). The Sensitivity Result event captures Microbiology Culture and Sensitivity information, all other Microbiology results are intended to be sent on the Generic Result event. Any result is suitable for use in the Generic Result event.

This attribute is used to document example units used in Canada for those numeric result codes to which units apply.  This is done on a best effort basis as informative content.  (All units are expressed using the Unified Code for Units of Measure - UCUM - available at https://ucum.org/trac). Those codes where no unit of measure is expected will be populated with non-applicable (n/a).

This attribute is intended to enable the designation of a recommended unit for use in Canada for those numeric result codes to which units apply.  Recommended units would be designated by an authoritative source, expressed using the Unified Code for Units of Measure (UCUM - available at https://ucum.org/trac). For those codes that have a Recommended Unit, the example unit will be identical to the Recommended unit for consistency, unless there is no recommended unit for a particular code because the property does not align with SI principles (i.e. mass codes), in those cases the recommended unit will be n/a for not applicable.

Units were selected in consultation with the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) and a group of Canadian Hematopathologists. These are present within the CHEM, CHAL, DRUG/TOX and HEM/BC domains for this release.

N.B. The companion HL7 V3 messaging specifications provide for the capability to communicate the applicable units explicitly for numeric results.

The first major LOINC part of the fully specified name consists of three subparts: (1) the principal name (e.g. the name of the analyte or the  measurement); (2) the challenge or provocation, if relevant, including the time delay, substance of challenge,  amount administered, and route of administration; and (3) any standardization or adjustment.  (LOINC Generated)

The second major LOINC part of the fully specified name distinguishes between different kinds of quantities relating to the same substance, e.g. the mass concentration versus the substance (molar) concentration of sodium in a urine sample, or the absolute eosinophil count versus the percent of the total white count that is made up of eosinophils. The type of property (kind of quantity) is an IUPAC concept described in the Silver Book .  (LOINC Generated)

The third major LOINC Part of the fully specified test name.  One can either measure a property at a moment (point) in time or measure it over a time interval and integrate, in the mathematical sense, over said interval. (LOINC Generated)

Also known as Specimen is the fourth major LOINC part of the fully specified test name. It consists of two subparts; the first part names the system, the optional second part, delimited with a "^", indicates the super system source of the sample if it is not the patient, e.g. fetus, blood product unit, donor, etc. (LOINC Generated)

The fifth major LOINC part of the test name specifies the scale of the measure, is a required part and should be used in the fully specified name. The abbreviation of the type of scale, should be used in the fully specified name. (LOINC Generated)

This refers to the method by which the test was performed is the sixth major LOINC part of the test name. Methods need only be expressed as part of the name when they provide a distinction between tests that measure the same component (analyte) but which have different clinical significance or have a different clinical reference ranges. For instance, whole blood glucose tested with a test strip might be distinguished in the method field. (LOINC Generated)

This field is a concatenation of the fully specified LOINC name.  (LOINC Generated)

This is an arbitrary classification of the terms for grouping related observations together. The current classifications are listed in online LOINC users' guide (https://loinc.org/kb/users-guide/classes/).   Although LOINC presents the database sorted by the CLASS field within CLASS TYPE,  users of the database should feel free to re-sort  the database in any way they find useful, and/or to add their own classifying fields to the database as is done within this workbook for the pan-Canadian specification.  (LOINC Generated)  It is retained for copyright reasons as well as to allow aggregation of the various workbooks for final publication. 

This pan-Canadian attribute is used to further categorize the LOINC Class attribute.  Currently, Microbiology is the only class that has been subdivided.  This attribute will facilitate review in large classes.

Deprecated or superseded status indicated by DEPRECATED in this field.  LOINC codes will never be re-used nor will they be removed from the database; they will instead be cross-referenced whenever possible to superseding terms.  Other status include: ACTIVE, TRIAL, DISCOURAGED. (LOINC Generated). Term that are marked by Regenstrief as DISCOURAGED may or may not be used in Canada as this status is not always applicable to Canadian Implementers. Infoway leaves it to individuals to make this determination, all DISCOURAGED terms are still active in pCLOCD.

See Component above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Property above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Time above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See System above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Scale above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Method above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Class above for this pan-Canadian attribute (LOINC Generated based on "LOINC  Part" based French translation and assembly)

See Sub-Class above

This pan-Canadian attribute indicates the current status of the record and is derived from the LOINC Part "Status." Only LOINC codes with the status "Deprecated" are classified as "Inactive." Valid values for this field are "Active" and "Inactive."

This pan-Canadian attribute is supplemental information, it provides the change type in the current pCLOCD release. The Change Type values are: Added, Major Change (change made to a core LOINC  element including  Component, Property, Time, Scale, System, &/or Method), Minor Change (change made to a pCLOCD column or LOINC class) Name (change to LOINC Component), No Change (change only relates to French Translation and has no impact on English), V Name (change made only to the Viewer Name) and Deprecated (record set to Inactive and has strikethrough font).  This field will be cleared with each pCLOCD release and only current changes will appear in each formally published release.

This pan-Canadian attribute is supplemental information, it provides the information about all changes that have been done to the record since it was first published. The most recent change is the last entry. Current Release Change Description notes are separated by a semi-colon the LOINC version. Changes that occur in different releases are separated by a semi-colon and a space and each new description begins with a capital letter. Change release descriptions separated only by a semi-colon that do not begin with a capital letter have occurred in the same release.

This pan-Canadian attribute is supplemental information that identifies the French translation status of the record. "Complete" is used to indicate records for which the French translation is deemed to have received adequate review.  Review Draft is used to designate a new translation that has not been previously published or reviewed. 

This pan-Canadian attribute is administrative information that indicates the type of adjustment to the French translation of the record between the previous and the most current publication.  A change type of No Change indicates the change was not required for the translated text and only applies to the English text. When the record indicates a change and the change description field is blank, the change description in the English column applies.

This pan-Canadian attribute is administrative information that provides details about all changes that have been made to translated terms since it was first published. The most recent change is the last entry. When the changes are reflected in the English 'Current Release Change Description; Change History' attribute, the field will be blank.  Current Release Change Description to French Terms notes are separated by a semi-colon. Changes that occur in different releases are separated by a semi-colon and a space and each new description begins with a capital letter. Change release descriptions separated only by a semi-colon that do not begin with a capital letter have occurred in the same release.

These names have been created by an algorithmic process and are checked for uniqueness. Most abbreviations and acronyms that are used in the LOINC database have been fully spelled out in English. For allergens, the common English names are used instead of the more formal Latin species names. For coagulation, the more commonly used phrases such as “Prothrombin time” have been used.

This field is used to describe the stages of records that have been created for submission to the LOINC Standards Development Organization (LOINC SDO).  The Submission Status values include; Candidate, Submitted, Approved, Withdrawn and Rejected.

This field provides the cross reference for "XCA" and jurisdictional codes that were approved by LOINC , deprecated and assigned a new LOINC  code. 

This field is used to identify pCLOCD codes that are counted as a service activity statistic as defined in the MIS Standards (Standards for Management Information Systems) published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The field is managed by CIHI. Further information about service activity and the principles and process used to define this attribute may be obtained by reviewing the MIS Standards or emailing [email protected]. ‘ Y’ indicates it should be counted, ‘N’ indicates it should not be counted and ‘X’ indicates the pCLOCD code has not been evaluated.