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Scope and Purpose

Implemented in laboratory information systems Snomed CT has the potential to guide the internal workflow in laboratories to allow evidence-based decisions on the way to diagnosis, cross-validate results and allow problem-focused access to knowledge resources and decision support algorithms.

To achieve this, every documentation in laboratory needs to be in Snomed CT. The project has a strong focus on providing the vocabulary needed to implement Snomed CT as the primary source of documentation in a Pathology information system. This includes leveraging pre- and postcoordination for documentation and access decision support resources.

Project goals

• Specimen definition need extension to allow all aspects of specimens to be documented by the clinician (e.g. orientation of excised specimen)

• Specimen structures need to be addressed (e.g. resection margins, specimen parts originating from grossing or contained in blocks or on slides)

• Biomarkers are another field that is highly dynamic, and the ontology should provide up-to-date concepts and relationships for antibodies and FISH probes

• Versioning of external resources like TNM, WHO and scores used for interpretation