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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.eka.care/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Overview

LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) is the global standard for identifying lab tests and clinical observations. Eka Care’s codification pipeline links free-text lab test names to LOINC codes.
PropertyValue
ontologyloinc
versionv1.0
metadataStrongly recommended

Why context matters

A lab test name on its own is often ambiguous. Hemoglobin measured in blood is a different LOINC code from hemoglobin measured in urine; the same test reported as a mass concentration differs from one reported as a molar concentration. LOINC codification therefore relies on the metadata field to disambiguate. Supplying the unit and specimen is the difference between a confident, correct link and an uncertain one.

The metadata field

KeyDescription
unitTest unit, e.g. g/dl, mg/dl, %. The single most important hint.
valueNumeric result value — improves value-type matching.
rangeReference range for the result.
specimenSpecimen type, e.g. blood, urine.
specimen_textFree-text specimen description (auto-detected if omitted).
panel_namePanel name for multi-test panels.
extended_test_nameExtended or alternate test name.

Context changes the result

Consider the query hemoglobin:
  • Without metadata — the top candidate is haemoglobin_urine and is_linked is false. The pipeline cannot tell which hemoglobin you mean.
  • With metadata: { "unit": "g/dl", "value": "14.5", "specimen": "blood" } — the pipeline links to LOINC 718-7 (“HEMOGLOBIN (HB) [Mass/Vol]”) with is_linked: true.

Reading the results

  • term_id — the LOINC code (e.g. 718-7)
  • is_linkedtrue only when test name, unit and specimen all match
  • metadata.matching_breakdown — which dimensions matched (component_match, unit_match, specimen_match, …)
  • metadata.eka_id — Eka’s internal lab identifier for the test
The response also includes a query_breakdown showing how the test name, unit and specimen were parsed from your request.

Supported lab tests

Eka Care maintains a curated list of lab tests that link to LOINC. Browse the full catalogue here:

Eka's LOINC-linkable lab tests

Public list of every lab test Eka can link to a LOINC code, with their expected names, units and specimens.
If the test you need isn’t in the list, get in touch — the catalogue is expanded continuously.

Try it out

See the Link Entity API and select the LOINC example to try it.