When is a glucose not a glucose? An overview of logical observation identifier names and codes (LOINC), the next generation of laboratory and clinical standards.

First released in 1996, the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) database provides a standard set of universal names and codes for identifying individual laboratory results (e.g., hemoglobin, serum sodium concentration), clinical observations (e.g., discharge diagnosis, diastolic blood pressure), and diagnostic study observations (e.g., PR interval, echocardiographic left ventricular diameter, chest x-ray impression). The purpose of LOINC is to facilitate the exchange and pooling of results, such as blood hemoglobin, serum potassium, or vital signs, for clinical care, outcomes management, and research. The author discusses the history of LOINC, its naming structure, and its use in electronic messages.