title: Clinical laboratory sciences data transmission: the NPU coding system.
abstract: In health care services, technology requires that correct information be duly available to professionals, citizens and authorities, worldwide. Thus, clinical laboratory sciences require standardized electronic exchanges for results of laboratory examinations. The NPU (Nomenclature, Properties and Units) coding system provides a terminology for identification of result values (property values). It is structured according to BIPM, ISO, IUPAC and IFCC recommendations. It uses standard terms for established concepts and structured definitions describing: which part of the universe is examined, which component of relevance in that part, which kind-of-property is relevant. Unit and specifications can be added where relevant [System(spec)-Component(spec); kind-of-property(spec) = ? unit]. The English version of this terminology is freely accessible at http://dior.imt.liu.se/cnpu/ and http://www.labterm.dk, directly or through the IFCC and IUPAC websites. It has been nationally used for more than 10 years in Denmark and Sweden and has been translated into 6 other languages. The NPU coding system provides a terminology for dedicated kinds-of-property following the international recommendations. It fits well in the health network and is freely accessible. Clinical laboratory professionals worldwide will find many advantages in using the NPU coding system, notably with regards to an accreditation process.
authors.affiliation: Service de Biochimie, AP-HP Hôpital Lariboisière, 75475 Paris, France. francoise.pontet@free.fr
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pontet
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Magdal Petersen
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Arderiu
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruunshuus
authors.forename: Jarkko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ihalainen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Forsum
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dybkaer
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schadow
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuelpmann
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Férard
authors.forename: Dongchon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009626:Terminology as Topic