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The query specification type reference set is used to hold a series of queries used to represent the membership of a subset of SNOMED CT components.

A query contained in the reference set is run against the content of SNOMED CT (the ) to produce a subset of concepts, descriptions or relationships (the expansion). The query is referred to as an intensional definition of the subset. It can be run against new releases of SNOMED CT to generate an updated set of subset members. Additionally, the members of the may also be represented in an enumerated form as a simple reference set. An enumerated representation of a subset is referred to as an extensional definition of a subset. The diagram below illustrates the relation between the query specification reference set and the simple reference set. The intensional definition is represented in the 'query' attribute, and the identifier for the expansion's simple reference set is represented by the concept referenced in the 'referencedComponentId' attribute.

The two tables below illustrate the relationship between the query specification type reference set and the simple reference set. The referencedComponentId in the query specification type reference set references a concept which represent the simple type reference set, which is used to hold the expansion of the intensional definition.

id	effectiveTime	active	moduleId	moduleId_term	refsetId	refsetId_term	referencedComponentId	referencedComponentId_term	query	query_term
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	900000000000513000	Simple query specification reference set	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	< 284009009	Descendants of \| Route of administration value \|

id	effectiveTime	active	moduleId	moduleId_term	refsetId	refsetId_term	referencedComponentId	referencedComponentId_term
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	420254004	Body cavity route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	419762003	Peritendinous route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	37161004	Rectal route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	419954003	Ileostomy route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	445754005	Intragingival route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	448077001	Intraepidermal route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	420163009	Esophagostomy route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	446442000	Transplacental route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	448491004	Intrajejunal route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	127490009	Gastrostomy route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	419243002	Transcervical route (qualifier value)
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	...	...
<UUID>	20160131	1	19999999103	Example Extension Module	739999999103	Route of administration simple reference set	...	...

The Expression Constraint Language is the recommended language for specifying queries over SNOMED CT content. This language allows for a consistent and machine-readable representation of sets of clinical meanings. This means that a set of expression constraints can be used to specify the intensional definition of a range of subsets used in a particular context. The use cases for the subset generated from the queries within a query specification reference set are similar to the use cases for simple reference sets. However, the query specification reference set type can be used anywhere a set of queries needs to be managed.

Reference Set Specific Attributes

Field

Data type

Purpose

SCTID

The identifier ( ) of the reference set for which members are to be generated.

The serialised that can be used to (re-)generate the reference set members.

The SNOMED CT Query Language is a formal language for representing computable queries over SNOMED CT content.

See specification: 5.2.1.7 Query Specification Reference Set