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Mapping local lab test result codes to SNOMED CT PaLM

Solutions for mapping local pathology and laboratory medicine test result codes to SNOMED CT PaLM.

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SNOMED CT Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PaLM) is a terminology that more accurately represents pathology and laboratory medicine patient test result codes (‘reportables’) than the legacy, outdated Read Pathology Bounded Code List (PBCL) codes currently in use.

Unfortunately, the limitations of many laboratory information management systems mean that SNOMED CT PaLM cannot yet be used natively by most labs, so mapping of ‘local’ reportables to SNOMED PaLM is required.

The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) defines mapping as:

the process of associating concepts from one terminological resource to concepts in another terminological resource and defining their equivalence in accordance with a documented rationale and a given purpose.

However, whilst prevalent in digital healthcare, mapping can be laborious, can introduce error, can result in variation, and requires ongoing maintenance.

Consequently, NHSE’s Pathology Standards and Implementation team have created guidance and resources to help labs map source terminology data representing patient test results to SNOMED CT PaLM and to other coded data elements in the Pathology FHIR Specification.

Please bookmark this page as further resources including SNOMED PaLM concept map tables currently in development will be added once assured.

Resources

ARTICLE

SNOMED CT PaLM Mapping Best Practice

Best practice for labs to follow when mapping source terminology data representing patient test results to SNOMED CT Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PaLM) and to other coded data elements in the Pathology FHIR Specification.

Last edited: 23 May 2025 11:30 am