The pan-Canadian LOINC Observation Code Database (pCLOCD) standard is published as an Excel file that contains ten tabs. The four tabs that were edited in this release include Infoway Terms of Use, LOINC® Copyright, Nomenclature and the Change Log.
This release will contain the February 2025 update (LOINC version 2.80) 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 40,085 records this release, up from 39,821 in the previously released version.
2. 39,035 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. 2,239 records were modified in English for this release and are marked as R06.22.00_2.80
a. 10 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.
4. 1,262 new records were added for the English Version.
5. 2,221 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
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:
- 1,173 Document Ontology LOINC codes were added to this release of pCLOCD. The addition of these codes were from Ontario Health and the British Columbia's published document ontology LOINC codes. The French translation of these LOINC Codes were not included in this release. The French translation will follow our formal request for change process, allowing stakeholders to request and supply a translation for review, approval and eventual publication. We encourage the submission of requests for this content translation to support this bilingual standard. By expanding the pCLOCD to include additional LOINC Document Ontology codes, Canada is taking a significant step toward enabling more structured, interoperable, and standardized document-based clinical data exchange. This effort not only aligns with jurisdictional needs but also ensures that Canada remains at the forefront of global interoperability standards in healthcare.
- 83 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:
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.
pan-Canadian Example Viewer Names were corrected to align with Infoway Guiding Principles and Rules for creating a pan-Canadian Laboratory iEHR Viewer Name
There were no structural changes to the pCLCOD Nomenclature table in this release.
Questions and feedback welcome, contact us