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Structure of the NPU terminology

An examination process studies one or more properties of something.
In the medical field, the outcome of a patient examination is information about certain properties of that patient.
The NPU nomenclature identifies laboratory result items by specifying these properties in a formal definition structure.

The structured definitions describe

  • the part of the universe that is studied (the system)
  • the component that is examined in that system
  • the estimated kind-of-property of the component in that system
  • measurement unit and specifications where relevant

This is expressed using internationally recognised and referenced terms set in a prescribed syntax and identified with a code:
    NPUxxxxx 
    System—
    Component; 
    kind-of-property  
    measurement unit

Examples of structured NPU definitions:
    NPU03431 
    Urine—
    Sodium ion; 
    substance concentration
    millimole per litre

    NPU19783 
    Plasma—
    Gliadin antibody(Immunoglobulin G); 
    mass concentration 
    milligram per litre
    
An abbreviated form of the definition may serve as a precise term for the property in laboratory reports and health care records:
    U—Sodium ion; subst.c. = [result value] mmol/l
    P—Gliadin antibody(IgG); mass c. = [result value] mg/l

The use of SI units and of internationally recognised and referenced terms from the clinical laboratory sciences enables translation of the structured definitions into other languages without loss of precision or meaning.  Translation of each term within the definition structure will leave the defined concept unchanged by translation.