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

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

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Figure 27: Possible expressions of "red steel pedal bicycle" without pre-coordinated option<br />

2.3. Representational Forms<br />

This section describes different ways in which <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT components, derivatives and expression can be<br />

represented. These representations include the files in which <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT is distributed as well as possible<br />

representations that may be used assist implementation or optimize particular functions.<br />

2.3.1. <strong>Release</strong> Files<br />

<strong>SNOMED</strong> CT is provided to licensees as a set of release files. The file naming conventions and the structure<br />

of these files is described in <strong>Release</strong> File Specifications in a separate section of this guide.There are currently<br />

two distinct <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong>s:<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 (with a few minor amendments).<br />

• <strong>Release</strong> <strong>Format</strong> 2 (RF2): Based on a draft trial specification that adds a range of significant enhancements.<br />

2.3.2. Representing <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT identifiers<br />

Structure and Content <strong>Guide</strong> | 61<br />

Components within <strong>SNOMED</strong> Clinical Terms are identified and referenced using numeric Identifiers. These<br />

Identifiers have the data type SCTID (<strong>SNOMED</strong> CT Identifier).<br />

The SCTID data type is 64-bit integer which is allocated and represented in accordance with a set of rules.<br />

These rules enable each Identifier to refer unambiguously to a unique component.They also support separate<br />

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

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