The pan-Canadian LOINC Observation Code Database (pCLOCD) standard is published and available on Infoway's FHIR Terminology Server and Terminology Gateway.
The pCLOCD Excel file contains ten tabs. The four tabs that were edited in this release include: Infoway Terms of Use, LOINC® Copyright, Element Substitutions, Nomenclature and the Change Log.
This release will contain the August 2025 update (LOINC version 2.81) from the Regenstrief Institute Inc. and any interim changes from the previously published release, which are described below.
We continue to expand the Canadian French translation of LOINC terms with each release and this includes translating new terms and updating existing revised terms. Thank you to the Translation working group for their ongoing support and dedication to this valuable work.
It is helpful to review the general pCLOCD release information alongside this pCLOCD release note.
1. There are a total of 41,085 records this release, up from 39,821 in the previously released version.
2. 39,033 records are translated to Canadian French, up from 38,944 in the last version. Note: Terms that are marked ‘Review Draft’ should be reviewed before they are used as the translation has not been previously published. Terms that are marked as ‘Complete’ have been previously published.
3. 2,255 records were modified in English for this release and are marked as R06.22.00_2.80
a. 12 records are of change type Minor.
b. 155 records are of change type Major.
c. 2,035 records are of the change type Name.
c. 39 records had updates to Viewer Name.
d. 14 concepts were Deprecated.
4. 1,264 new records were added for the English Version. *Note: LOINC Code 18761-7 was inadvertently marked as Change Type: Added. LOINC Codes: 98979-8, 90100-9, 86243-3 should have been identified as Change Type: Added.
5. 2,235 records were modified in French for this release and are marked as R06.22.00_2.80
a. 8 records are of the change type Minor.
b. 155 records are od the change type Major.
b. 2,029 records are of the change type Name.
c. 29 records had updates to Viewer Names
d. 14 concepts were Deprecated.
6. 87 new records were added for the French version.
7. Both languages contain a number of codes that only have changes in the other language; those are identified as ‘No Change’.
Of specific interest in this release, current implementers may want to review these changes:
New Content Highlights:
- # LOINC Codes requested by jurisdictions to support LIS needs and Interoperability.
Note: New LOINC codes are added in pCLOCD solely on stakeholder requests. Infoway only adds LOINC content identified by stakeholders as being used or required, this effort allows us to uphold pCLOCD's authenticity as a true reflection of Canadian usage and requirements. For your convenience, a list of all newly published LOINC 2.78 codes is available for download. If your jurisdiction requires existing LOINC codes added to pCLOCD, please submit your request via InfoRMS.
Term Edits Highlights:
Edits derived from LOINC release 2.79 and hotfix 2.80
As part of the ongoing and active LOINC and SNOMED collaboration the following changes were released as part of LOINC in v279 and hot fix v280.
These changes include:
- Improved concept descriptions to enhance definitions of erythrocyte distribution diameter, sedimentation rate, specimen descriptions and other key element
- Clarification for ratios and fractions
- Simplified Component definitions with embedded units and method seperately
1) Approximately, 1400 changes to LOINC Component names in Cell Marker, Hematology and Cell Count class codes that have specific fraction case where the denominator is percentage or "/100". The percentage piece "100" was removed from the Component name since it is already captured by the Property attribute" NFr (Numeric fraction), and by Unit: %. This change elminates the redudancy to include "100" in the Component name.
2) Approximately 400 changes to LOINC Component names were updated to remove “Identified” because it is implied by the Property attribute “PRID”
3) Approximately 100 changes to LOINC Component with a property-like description as in Color, Appearance, Osmolality has changed to “Observation” and the LOINC Property attribute may have also changed to describe: Color, or Appearance, or Osmolality, etc.
Edits derived from Jurisidiction requests for changes include:
- 415 LOINC Codes that were modified in LOINC releases 2.78 and 2.79 as part of the LOINC-SNOMED CT collaboration and the development of the LOINC ontology that represents a shift to a more post-coordinated model have been edited. The edits intend to address the challenge LOINC's changes for LOINC Component Name generalization where there was concatenation of one or more core LOINC attributes in the Component Name (Example: https://loinc.org/785-6 LOINC Component was previously "Erythrocyte mean corpuscular hemoglobin" and changed to "Hemoglobin". LOINC's rationale: Precoordination of the component with Property: mean concentration; the decision was to post coordinate and separate component and property.) These LOINC codes (415) have been updated in this release to retain the former pan-Canadian nomenclature to preserve clinical differentation and specificity. This change comes as a result of consultation and consensus with the following jurisdictions: Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, Newfoundland, Yukon.
- pCLOCD editorial guidelines found in section 3.1 Customizations of the pCLOCD Maintenance Guide have been updated to reflect the approach on pan-Canadian nomenclature for when the LOINC Component Name is generalized resulting in reduced specificity to support post coordination of LOINC terms for LOINC ontology.
- pan-Canadian Example Viewer Name corrections to align with Infoway Guiding Principles and Rules for creating a pan-Canadian Laboratory iEHR Viewer Name
- Other corrections as identified by stakeholder review and internal quality assurance
There were no structural changes to the pCLOCD Nomenclature table in this release.
Questions and feedback welcome, contact us