Within the UK’s NHS, tests are identified by a name and codes.
Years ago, the NHS adopted Read Codes but, despite massive work, the fact that the UK was almost alone in using these codes was seen to be a real problem. Hence the NHS decided to changeover to SNOMED – a widely used code system. (Though they use a UK-specific variant.)
In many displays of test result, you will see its name followed by its Read Code. This has little or no relevance to patients looking at their tests. Effectively it just repeats the test’s name. However, if the test name is not clear (maybe it has smudged or been cropped), the code might help confirm the test.
One of the bad design decisions of Read Codes was that the codes can end with one or more full stops. Which can cause confusion in word processors and ends of sentences.
The first table here contains a selection of commonly performed tests with both Read and SNOMED codes.
The second table is specific for thyroid and includes not just tests but also codes applied to test results. It has many variants of standard thyroid tests such as TSH level at precise timed intervals.
|
Component |
Specimen |
Read Code |
SNOMED CT UK |
SNOMED CT UK |
|
Creatinine (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q5 |
1000731000000107 |
Serum creatinine level |
|
Sodium (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q0 |
1000661000000107 |
Serum sodium level |
|
Potassium (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2pz |
1000651000000109 |
Serum potassium level |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
XUit4 |
1022431000000105 |
Haemoglobin estimation |
|
Hemoglobin (substance) |
<> |
XUit4 |
1022431000000105 |
Haemoglobin estimation |
|
Leukocyte (cell) |
<> |
XaIdY |
1022541000000102 |
Total white cell count |
|
Leukocyte (cell) |
<> |
X76vU |
1022541000000102 |
Total white cell count |
|
Platelet (cell structure) |
<> |
42P.. |
1022651000000100 |
Platelet count |
|
Blood cell (cell) |
<> |
42P.. |
1022651000000100 |
Platelet count |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
42A.. |
1022491000000106 |
MCV - Mean corpuscular volume |
|
Neutrophilic granulocytic cell (cell) |
<> |
XUBQD |
1022551000000104 |
Neutrophil count |
|
Lymphocyte (cell) |
<> |
42M.. |
1022581000000105 |
Lymphocyte count |
|
Monocyte (cell) |
<> |
42N.. |
1022591000000107 |
Monocyte count |
|
Eosinophilic granulocytic cell (cell) |
<> |
42K.. |
1022561000000101 |
Eosinophil count |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
XE2Zq |
1022291000000105 |
Haematocrit |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
426.. |
1022451000000103 |
Red blood cell count |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
XE2pb |
1022471000000107 |
MCH - Mean corpuscular haemoglobin |
|
Albumin (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2eA |
1000821000000103 |
Serum albumin level |
|
Basophil, segmented (cell) |
<> |
XUDoG |
1022571000000108 |
Basophil count |
|
Blood cell (cell) |
<> |
424.. |
1022441000000101 |
FBC - full blood count |
|
Urea (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XM0lt |
1000951000000103 |
Serum urea level |
|
Alkaline phosphatase (substance) |
<> |
XE2px |
1000621000000104 |
Serum alkaline phosphatase level |
|
Alanine aminotransferase (substance) |
<> |
44G3. |
1018251000000107 |
Serum alanine aminotransferase level |
|
Substance (substance) |
<> |
X77WP |
997531000000108 |
Liver function test |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
429.. |
1022481000000109 |
MCHC - Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration |
|
Urea (substance) |
<> |
X77Wi |
1000971000000107 |
Urea and electrolytes level |
|
Thyrotrophin (substance) |
<> |
XaELV |
1022791000000101 |
Serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level |
|
Bilirubin (substance) |
<> |
XaERu |
997591000000109 |
Serum total bilirubin level |
|
Protein (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2e9 |
1000811000000109 |
Serum total protein |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
XE2mO |
993501000000105 |
Red blood cell distribution width |
|
High density lipoprotein cholesterol (substance) |
Serum specimen |
44P5. |
1005681000000107 |
Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol level |
|
Triacylglycerol (substance) |
<> |
XE2q9 |
1005691000000109 |
Serum triglycerides level |
|
Lipid (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q7 |
1005661000000103 |
Serum lipids level |
|
Globulin (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2eB |
1001231000000108 |
Serum globulin level |
|
Lipid (substance) |
<> |
XaEUq |
1015681000000109 |
Serum cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio |
|
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (substance) |
Serum specimen |
44P6. |
1022191000000100 |
Serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level |
|
Calcium (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q3 |
1000691000000101 |
Serum calcium level |
|
Ferritin (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE24r |
993381000000106 |
Serum ferritin level |
|
Calcium (substance) |
Serum specimen |
44IC. |
935051000000108 |
Serum adjusted calcium concentration |
|
Bilirubin (substance) |
Serum specimen |
44E.. |
999691000000104 |
Serum bilirubin level |
|
Free thyroxine (substance) |
<> |
XaERr |
1016971000000106 |
Serum free T4 level |
|
Thyroxine (substance) |
<> |
XaERr |
1016971000000106 |
Serum free T4 level |
|
C reactive protein (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XaINL |
1001371000000100 |
Serum CRP (C reactive protein) level |
|
Glucose (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XM0ly |
1010671000000102 |
Plasma glucose level |
|
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (substance) |
<> |
XaES3 |
1000861000000106 |
Serum GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) level |
|
Cyanocobalamin (substance) |
<> |
XE2pf |
993391000000108 |
Serum vitamin B12 level |
|
Nucleated red blood cell (cell) |
Blood specimen |
4266 |
1022461000000100 |
Nucleated red blood cell count |
|
Substance (substance) |
Urine specimen |
XE2n3 |
1023491000000104 |
Urine albumin:creatinine ratio |
|
Phosphate (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q4 |
1000701000000101 |
Serum inorganic phosphate level |
|
Folic acid (substance) |
Serum specimen |
42U5. |
993411000000108 |
Serum folate level |
|
Skeletal material (substance) |
<> |
44Z2. |
1006761000000104 |
Bone profile |
|
Organism (organism) |
Urine specimen |
46U.. |
1023711000000100 |
Urine culture |
|
Substance (substance) |
<> |
44PF. |
1028551000000102 |
Total cholesterol:HDL (high density lipoprotein) ratio |
|
Creatinine (substance) |
Urine specimen |
XE2qO |
1003271000000106 |
Urine creatinine level |
|
Glucose (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
44g1. |
1003141000000105 |
Plasma fasting glucose level |
|
Leukocyte (cell) |
<> |
42I.. |
1015421000000106 |
Differential white cell count |
|
Chloride salt (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q1 |
1000671000000100 |
Serum chloride level |
|
Chloride electrolyte (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q1 |
1000671000000100 |
Serum chloride level |
|
Hemoglobin A (substance) |
<> |
XaERp |
1019431000000105 |
HbA1c level (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial aligned) |
|
Glycated hemoglobin-A1c (substance) |
<> |
XaERp |
1019431000000105 |
HbA1c level (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial aligned) |
|
Aspartate aminotransferase (substance) |
Serum specimen |
X771i |
1000881000000102 |
Serum aspartate aminotransferase level |
|
Electrolyte (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2mj |
1000641000000106 |
Serum electrolytes level |
|
Alkaline phosphatase (substance) |
<> |
44F3. |
997611000000101 |
Total alkaline phosphatase level |
|
Hemoglobin A (substance) |
<> |
X772q |
1003671000000109 |
Haemoglobin A1c level |
|
Glycated hemoglobin-A1c (substance) |
<> |
X772q |
1003671000000109 |
Haemoglobin A1c level |
|
Albumin (substance) |
Urine specimen |
XE2bw |
1010251000000109 |
Urine microalbumin level |
|
C reactive protein (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XE2dy |
999651000000107 |
Plasma C reactive protein |
|
Lipid (substance) |
<> |
XaIp4 |
1014501000000104 |
Calculated LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol level |
|
Bicarbonate (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2q2 |
1000681000000103 |
Serum bicarbonate level |
|
Basophil, segmented (cell) |
<> |
XE2mS |
1015501000000103 |
Percentage basophils |
|
Monocyte (cell) |
<> |
XE2mR |
1015491000000109 |
Percentage monocytes |
|
Lymphocyte (cell) |
<> |
XE2mQ |
1015481000000107 |
Percentage lymphocytes |
|
Neutrophilic granulocytic cell (cell) |
<> |
XE2mP |
1015471000000105 |
Percentage neutrophils |
|
Eosinophilic granulocytic cell (cell) |
<> |
XaCJj |
1015561000000104 |
Percentage eosinophils |
|
Cholesterol (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XaJe9 |
994351000000103 |
Serum total cholesterol level |
|
Organism (organism) |
<> |
4J17. |
1010421000000103 |
Sample culture |
|
Blood cell (cell) |
<> |
XUb3T |
993551000000106 |
Large unstained cells |
|
Prostate specific antigen (substance) |
<> |
XE25C |
1030791000000100 |
PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level |
|
Erythrocyte (cell) |
<> |
XaIo4 |
993901000000100 |
Percentage hypochromic cells |
|
Glucose (substance) |
Blood specimen |
X772z |
997671000000106 |
Blood glucose level |
|
Epithelial cell (cell) |
<> |
XaIrd |
992871000000105 |
Epithelial cell count |
|
Substance (substance) |
Urine specimen |
4618 |
1007881000000101 |
Urine dipstick test |
|
Glucose (substance) |
Serum specimen |
44f.. |
1010611000000107 |
Serum glucose level |
|
Coagulation related substance (substance) |
<> |
XUY3i |
852471000000107 |
Prothrombin time |
|
Vitamin D and vitamin D derivative (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XE2e7 |
1031181000000107 |
Serum vitamin D level |
|
Calcium (substance) |
<> |
XUjWw |
998341000000105 |
Calcium adjusted level |
|
Urate (substance) |
<> |
XM0ls |
1001021000000101 |
Serum urate level |
|
Iron (substance) |
Serum specimen |
X76tH |
1019351000000105 |
Serum iron level |
|
Hematinic (substance) |
Blood specimen |
XaDsm |
1019561000000101 |
Blood haematinic levels |
|
Pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (substance) |
<> |
XM0lx |
1023191000000105 |
Serum FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level |
|
Creatinine (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XaETQ |
1001011000000107 |
Plasma creatinine level |
|
Potassium (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XaIRl |
1017401000000106 |
Plasma potassium level |
|
Sodium (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XaIRf |
1017381000000106 |
Plasma sodium level |
|
Alanine aminotransferase (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XaIRi |
1013211000000103 |
Plasma alanine aminotransferase level |
|
Hematinic (substance) |
Blood specimen |
XaIqS |
993171000000106 |
B12/folate level |
|
Pituitary luteinizing hormone (substance) |
<> |
XM0lv |
1023161000000104 |
Serum luteinising hormone level |
|
Bacterium (organism) |
<> |
XaKEy |
1018651000000109 |
Bacterial culture and sensitivity |
|
Albumin (substance) |
Plasma specimen |
XaIRc |
1013361000000105 |
Plasma albumin level |
|
Creatine kinase (substance) |
Serum specimen |
XUYWe |
1000931000000105 |
Serum creatine kinase level |
|
Alkaline phosphatase (substance) |
<> |
XaIRj |
1013041000000106 |
Plasma alkaline phosphatase level |
Read Codes are also used to express results (and many other things). For example, Thyroid function tests normal has the code 442H.00
|
Test/status |
Read Code |
|
TSH - thyroid-stimulating hormone deficiency |
C134300 |
|
Serum T4 level abnormal |
4426100 |
|
Serum T4 level normal |
4426000 |
|
Serum T3 level low |
4424200 |
|
Serum T3 level high |
4424100 |
|
Serum T3 level normal |
4424000 |
|
Thyroxine binding globulin-TBG |
4429 |
|
Free thyroxine index |
4428 |
|
Free T4 level |
4427 |
|
Serum T4 level |
4426 |
|
Free T3 level |
4425 |
|
Serum T3 level |
4424 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests low |
4423 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests high |
4422 |
|
Euthyroid |
4421.11 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests normal |
4421 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests |
442..00 |
|
TRH level |
442..11 |
|
TSH level |
442..12 |
|
Thyroid function tests |
442..13 |
|
Thyroxine binding globulin |
442..14 |
|
Plasma total T4 level |
442a.00 |
|
TSH - thyroid stim. hormone |
442A.00 |
|
Serum TSH level normal |
442A000 |
|
Serum TSH level abnormal |
442A100 |
|
Serum total T4 level |
442b.00 |
|
TRH - thyroid release. hormone |
442B.00 |
|
Plasma free T4 level |
442c.00 |
|
Thyroid horm tests borderline |
442C.00 |
|
Serum thyroglobulin level |
442d.00 |
|
T3 uptake test |
442D.00 |
|
T3 uptake test normal |
442D000 |
|
T3 uptake test abnormal |
442D100 |
|
Blood spot TSH level |
442e.00 |
|
PBI - protein bound iodine estimation |
442E.00 |
|
Serum total T3 level |
442f.00 |
|
T3 suppression test |
442F.00 |
|
Serum thyroglobulin recovery level |
442g.00 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests abnormal |
442G.00 |
|
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test |
442h.00 |
|
Thyroid function tests normal |
442H.00 |
|
Thyroid function tests abnormal |
442I.00 |
|
Thyroid function test |
442J.00 |
|
30 minute plasma TSH level |
442K.00 |
|
60 minute plasma TSH level |
442L.00 |
|
90 minute plasma TSH level |
442M.00 |
|
120 minute plasma TSH level |
442N.00 |
|
150 minute plasma TSH level |
442O.00 |
|
30 minute serum TSH level |
442P.00 |
|
60 minute serum TSH level |
442Q.00 |
|
120 minute serum TSH level |
442S.00 |
|
150 minute serum TSH level |
442T.00 |
|
Serum free triiodothyronine level |
442U.00 |
|
Serum free T4 level |
442V.00 |
|
Serum TSH level |
442W.00 |
|
Plasma TSH level |
442X.00 |
|
Plasma free triiodothyronine level |
442Y.00 |
|
Thyroid hormone tests NOS |
442Z.00 |
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