LOINC Release 2.81 Now Available

Hi all,

The latest LOINC release (version 2.81) is now available for download from LOINC.org and accessible via the  LOINC Terminology Server  and  Infoway Terminology Server  using HL7® FHIR®.

Highlights from this release include:

1. Updates to 647 LOINC concepts to enhance interoperability and structured data exchange, supporting standards-based solutions for emerging healthcare needs internationally. Includes updates to several LOINC concepts requested by the Canadian LOINC Community to preserve nomenclature that supports clinical differentiation and specificity in high-volume assays.
2. 3,576 new LOINC concepts. Includes the Introduction of the new LABORDERS.ONTOLOGY class with nearly 2,500 new laboratory concepts, developed in collaboration with SNOMED International. This class groups LOINC concepts representing laboratory orders into a hierarchical, ontological view. Concepts in this class are not intended for reporting laboratory test results. Instead, they support the creation and electronic communication of lab orders, either alone or in combination with specimen or other information, particularly within electronic health record (EHR) systems and other health IT workflows. We encourage you to review the guidance on the new LABORDERS.ONTOLOGY concepts provided in the Version 2.81 release.
3. New and updated Canadian French translations of LOINC parts, available in the linguistic variants files package.

You can explore the full details of this release in the LOINC Knowledge Base .

Looking ahead:
Infoway’s Standards team is actively preparing the next pCLOCD release , scheduled for publication on September 30, 2025. This release will incorporate updates from LOINC Version 2.81 as well as requests for change identified by stakeholders, ensuring continued support for interoperability in Canada and internationally.