Current Status and Standardization Strategies for Major Infectious Antigen and Antibody Test Names in Korea
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Standardizing medical data is essential for improving data sharing and interoperability among healthcare institutions.Recently, the Ministry of Health and Welfare revised the Standard Terms and Transmission Format for Healthcare Data, permitting the use of Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) for laboratory test names.However, research on applying LOINC to infectious antigen and antibody tests remains limited.Methods: We surveyed 38 healthcare institutions regarding major infectious antigen and antibody tests commonly performed in the National Health Screening Program and in proficiency testing by the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service.Test names used by each institution were collected, and the adoption of LOINC was assessed.In addition, appropriate LOINC codes for each test item were identified and proposed.Results: The survey revealed substantial variation in test names for the same test item, complicating the comparison and interpretation of results.For example, the non-treponemal test was reported under 60 different names, whereas the most standardized test name was HBeAg (90.3%).Only 2 of the 38 institutions reported using LOINC codes.The submitted LOINC codes were analyzed, and applicable codes for infectious antigen and antibody tests were proposed.Conclusions: This study proposes standardized names and corresponding LOINC codes for major infectious antigen and antibody tests, providing a foundation for future medical data standardization and utilization.
Source: Laboratory Medicine Online
Authors: Kyung Ran Jun, Shinae Yu, Hae In Bang, Kyung-Hwa Shin, Hyeyoung Lee, Soo Jin Yoo
Institutions: Inje University, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University, Korea University Anam Hospital, Eulji University, Eulji University Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7141225254
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