Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)

Why it matters

Every laboratory names its tests differently. Without a shared code, a haemoglobin result from one hospital cannot be reliably compared with one from another, sent to national surveillance or counted in a report without manual mapping. LOINC provides that shared code, and it is free to use.

Key points

• LOINC contains more than 100,000 concepts covering laboratory and clinical observations [1].
• Its first release, LOINC 1.0, contained more than 6,000 laboratory test results; the 100,000th code was released with version 2.75 [2].
• The licence permits use for any commercial or non commercial purpose without fees, provided LOINC is not used to create a competing standard, its core fields are not changed and the attribution notice is carried [3].
• LOINC identifies what was measured. Coded answers and findings can use other terminologies such as SNOMED CT.
• Coding at the laboratory, rather than at the ministry, means every downstream report uses the same identifiers without a separate mapping exercise.

In Moana

MOANA LIS supports LOINC coding of tests, so results can be exchanged and reported consistently across facilities.

Sources

1. What is LOINC?, SNOMED International and Regenstrief Institute, accessed 2026
2. Timeline of LOINC history, Regenstrief Institute, accessed 2026
3. LOINC licence, Regenstrief Institute, accessed 2026