title: Logical observation identifier names and codes (LOINC) database: a public use set of codes and names for electronic reporting of clinical laboratory test results.
abstract: Many laboratories use electronic message standards to transmit results to their clients. If all laboratories used the same "universal" set of test identifiers, electronic transmission of results would be greatly simplified. The Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes (LOINC) database aims to be such a code system, covering at least 98% of the average laboratory's tests. The LOINC database should be of interest to hospitals, clinical laboratories, doctors' offices, state health departments, governmental healthcare providers, third-party payors, organizations involved in clinical trials, and quality assurance and utilization reviewers. The fifth release of the LOINC database, containing codes, names, and synonyms for approximately 6300 test observations, is now available on the Internet for public use. Here we describe the LOINC database, the methods used to produce it, and how it may be obtained.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Forrey
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: DeMoor
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leavelle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leland
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fiers
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stalling
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tullis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baenziger
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care