The current editorial guidance on the use of slashes in FSNs states: "The forward slash should not be used in FSNs. Exceptions: A forward slash may be used for representing units of measure, as required in the pharmaceutical products hierarchy, and in laboratory test results and units of measure hierarchies. They may also be used in the construct "and/or" in FSNs. There should be no space either before or after the slash. We have received a request to represent types of thalassemia that have heterozygous hemoglobin genes. For example: Hemoglobin D/beta thalassemia where one gene codes for HgbD and the other for the mutation in the HBB gene that causes beta-thalassemia. Should we revise the guidance for use of slashes to allow for this type of concept or provide another representation?
