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

144 | SNOMED CT Release Format 1 (RF1) Guide July 2012
3.2.9.2. Descriptions Table
Each row in the Descriptions Table associates a term with a clinical concept, which it can be used to represent.
Each Description has its own unique Identifier and also contains the text of a Term and the Identifier of the
Concept that it represents.
Note:
Some terms may be applied to more than one concept. In this case each is represented by a separate
row in the Descriptions Table with the same term text but with different Identifiers.
Each Description contains a single term, which is valid in one or more languages or dialects.
To identify the descriptions for any language edition, the appropriate Language Subset must be used. Do no
use the Descriptions Table alone.The descriptions for each language edition (including English) are designated
in the Subset.
3.2.9.2.1. Key Fields
Table 71: -
Descriptions Table
Key Fields
DescriptionId
Field Type
SCTID
Permitted characters
Digits 0 to 9 only
Length
6 to 18
The unique SNOMED CT Identifier for this description. See Component features - Identifiers (2.1.1.4.2) for
an explanation of the SCTID data type format.
3.2.9.2.2. Data Fields
The Descriptions Table contains the following data fields:
• DescriptionStatus
• ConceptId
• Term
• InitialCapitalStatus
• DescriptionType
• LanguageCode
3.2.9.2.2.1. DescriptionStatus
Table 72: -
Descriptions Table
Data Field
DescriptionStatus
Field Type
Enumerated
Permitted characters
See listed values
Length
1 to 2
The status of a Description indicates whether it is in current use and, if not, indicates the reason for withdrawal
from current use.
© 2002-2012 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation CVR #: 30363434