Abstract
The Standard Laboratory Test Code Set (SLTCS) is a data collection of JLAC10 codes as frequently-used items in clinical laboratory tests. It has been certified as a standardized code set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the ministry strongly recommends to medical institutions to use it.
We collected three datasets consisted of clinical test items which covered 99% of all the tests conducted at a medical institution and two clinical laboratory centers. We investigated whether JLAC10 codes; 5, 9, 12, 15, and 17 digits codes, in each dataset were existed in the SLTCS or not. As a result, the matching rate for 15 digits codes was 0.77 or less and the deficient rate of the fourth element (methodology element) codes was 0.17 or more. Mismatched codes between the datasets and the SLTCS were caused by (1) the lack of proper codes in the SLTCS, (2) the diversity of codings with JLAC10, and (3) the presence of institution–specific codings. In order to expand the use of JLAC10, it is urgent to solve the issues regarding appropriate maintenance of the SLTCS data management.
