Mapping local lab test result codes to SNOMED PaLM

SNOMED 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more accurately represents pathology and laboratory medicine patient test result codes (‘reportables’) than the legacy, outdated Read Pathology Bounded Code List (PBCL) codes currently in use.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 PaLM cannot yet be used natively by most labs, so mapping of ‘local’ reportables to SNOMED PaLM is required. However, doing this manually can be laborious, can result in variation, increases the potential for error, and requires ongoing manual maintenance.

Consequently, NHSE’s Pathology Standards and Implementation team are working with Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Service to establish the best and most efficient way that labs can map to SNOMED PaLM and to other coded data elements in the Pathology FHIR Specification, and how best to create and maintain assured map tables and value sets. This has involved formulating and testing a range of mapping strategies, and testing and evaluating a range of existing mapping tools.

Outputs from this work will include best practice guidance, and practical artefacts including reference SNOMED PBCL to SNOMED PaLM concept maps. These will be published on this website in the coming months, so bookmark this page and check back regularly.