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SNOMED CT® Release Format 1 (RF1) Guide - ihtsdo

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102 | <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> 1 (<strong>RF1</strong>) <strong>Guide</strong> July 2012<br />

Chapter<br />

3<br />

<strong>Release</strong> File <strong>Format</strong>s<br />

Currently, during a transitional period, there are two distinct <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong>s for <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT:<br />

• <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> 2 (RF2): The new standard distribution format for <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT. This was developed in<br />

response to extensive feedback on its predecessor and will replace <strong>RF1</strong> during 2012.<br />

• <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> 1 (3.2) (<strong>RF1</strong>): The specification in which <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT has been provided since its first<br />

release in 2002. This format will be phased out, but support of applications that require <strong>RF1</strong> format files<br />

will be available using a conversion application developed and supplied by the IHTSDO.<br />

The key enhancements in RF2 are:<br />

• More robust and consistent version representation;<br />

• Reference sets, provides a more easily extensible and maintainable replacement for <strong>RF1</strong> subsets and<br />

crossmaps;<br />

• Use of an added hierarchy to represent metadata about the structure of <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT itself.<br />

Both <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong>s represent:<br />

• The components of <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT:<br />

• Concepts<br />

• Descriptions<br />

• Relationships<br />

• Additional derivatives that provide standard representations of :<br />

• Value-sets consisting of a specified set of concepts or relationships<br />

• Cross mapping tables to other codes and classifications.<br />

Both <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong>s are provided in:<br />

• Tab-delimited text files;<br />

• Represent character content in accordance with the Unicode UTF-8 specification;<br />

• Use <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT Identifiers as the permanent Identifier of released core components;<br />

• Support extensions to the International <strong>Release</strong> using namespaces allocated to licensees to denote the<br />

provenance of added components and to ensure Identifier uniqueness.<br />

3.1. <strong>RF1</strong> Compatibility and Conversion Tools<br />

In January 2012 the IHTSDO switched from the original <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> (used for <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT distribution<br />

since 2002), to the more flexible and consistent <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> 2 (RF2). This means that from that date<br />

onward the primary source data for the <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT International <strong>Release</strong> is maintained and distributed in<br />

the RF2 format.<br />

© 2002-2012 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation CVR #: 30363434

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