IMPROVED January 2020 pCLOCD release is now available for download

Your first SQL processed pan-Canadian LOINC Observation Code Database (pCLOCD) January 2020 release is now available on Terminology Gateway for downloading .

We successfully migrated pCLOCD from Excel to SQL in order to automate the maintenance process. During this project, many of the pan-Canadian attributes and the French LOINC Component were identified as fields that will continue to be updated manually.

What this means to you:

• pCLOCD releases continue to be available for download in: Access, Excel, JSON and XML format.
• Better data quality and integrity as quality assurance has been automated.
• Resolution to the inaccurate formulation and display of the pan-Canadian Name (English and French). This was a known issue for the past couple of pCLOCD releases.
• Update to Change History; Current Release Change Description (English and French). Change descriptions are now identified with corresponding LOINC version numbers, as of this release (2.67) and onwards. Version number appears prior to the details of the change. In addition, change descriptions now include the "From" and "To" changes the term underwent. We thank each jurisdiction that participated in the pCLOCD 2019 Survey — the update for this field came from your feedback!

Changes to pCLOCD based on the December 2019 International release of LOINC® includes:

• 177 total records with content edits in either English or French, marked as R05.11.00_2.67
• 146 term edits were not identified as R05.11.00_2.67, these edits were based on the added tall man lettering to LOINC parts that were overlooked in the 2.66 release. The tall man lettering for drugs is based on recommendations from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and ISMP Canada. Please see the new list of LOINC Terms with Tall Man Lettering to identify the changes.

Please check out pCLOCD release notes for all details and content highlights.

We wish to thank all of our jurisdictional implementers for continuously providing us with feedback and support, and for helping to test the new pCLOCD maintenance too. Your contributions continue to enhance pCLOCD to better meet the needs of Canadian implementers.

Additionally, we would like to thank the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) for its continued collaboration on updating the MIS Service Activity Reporting attribute for pCLOCD codes. Further information about service activity, the principles and process used to define this attribute in pCLOCD may be obtained by reviewing the MIS Standards or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

As always, please know that we make every effort to carefully consider and review your suggestions and feedback — be sure to send them our way. If you have any questions or require more information about this release, send us an email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Happy pCLOCDing,
Linda Monico
Senior Specialist, Standards & InfoCentral