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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Reading the results

  • term_id — the LOINC code (e.g. 718-7)
  • is_linked — true 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.

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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.

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Try it out

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