LOINCs for commercial in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and laboratory-developed tests (LDTs)

The full list of IVD assays and LDTs approved under FDA EUA and corresponding LOINC terms is available in the LIVD file posted on the CDC website. This file is maintained jointly by CDC, FDA, APHL, IVD manufacturers, and the Regenstrief LOINC team and is updated weekly. It currently contains LOINC order and result codes, SNOMED CT specimen and result codes, and device identifier information.

We previously published a list of LOINC codes corresponding to a subset of assays for which we had manufacturers' permission to do so on this page; we decided to remove that table and link to the full file published by the CDC in order to provide consistent information across assays and avoid confusion as to why only a subset was published on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19?

SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 stands for Coronavirus Disease 2019. The LOINC Component represents the analyte being tested for, which is why the Components include “SARS Coronavirus 2” rather than “COVID-19”.

What is the difference between SARS coronavirus, SARS coronavirus 2, SARS-related coronavirus, and SARS-like coronavirus?

• SARS-related coronavirus (SARS-related CoV) is a species of coronavirus in the sub-genus Sarbecovirus. SARS-related CoV includes SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and bat SARS coronaviruses.
• SARS-CoV is the specific virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which was identified in 2003.
• SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for COVID-19. It was previously known as 2019 Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov).
• Our current understanding of “SARS-like coronavirus” (SARS-like CoV) is that it is a group of viruses that are genetically similar to SARS-CoV but that the group does not include SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. In other words, SARS-related CoV = SARS-CoV + SARS-CoV-2 + SARS-like CoV.

What are LOINC panel codes used for?

Panel codes should ONLY be used for test orders (batteries) and NOT for reporting results.

Panel codes have the word "panel" in the Component and a dash ("-") for the Property. They contain a collection of LOINC codes that are used to report the results for each individual test.

The current panel codes focused on SARS-CoV-2 testing include:

• RT-PCR tests
  • LOINC 94531-1 (respiratory specimens)
  • LOINC 94306-8 (unspecified specimens)
• RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A & B
  • LOINC 95422-2 (respiratory specimens; SARS-CoV-2 N gene, Influenza A, Influenza B)
  • LOINC 95380-2 (respiratory specimens; SARS-CoV-2 RNA, SARS-related CoV, Influenza A, Influenza B)
• IgG and IgM antibody (serology) tests
  • LOINC 94503-0 (rapid immunoassay)
  • LOINC 94504-8 (immunoassay)

What is the difference between LOINC terms with System XXX and Respiratory?

Most testing for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids is currently being done on respiratory specimens, such as nasopharyngeal or throat swabs, or sputum. LOINC terms with System Respiratory are meant for tests done on respiratory specimens. If your lab is testing respiratory specimens, we strongly recommend that you use respiratory-specific LOINC codes.

Terms with System XXX are used when the specimen is unspecified, meaning that it is not known, or that multiple unique specimen types (e.g., respiratory, blood, urine, environmental) may be tested and the specimen information is sent separately in the electronic result message. For COVID-19 testing, LOINC terms with System XXX were created for the latter case where  respiratory, stool, urine, or blood, may be tested. However, most assays as of July 2020 are only testing respiratory specimens, in which case the respiratory-specific LOINC codes are recommended.

Which LOINC codes should I use for the U.S. CDC RT-PCR test?

The U.S. CDC test kit, which is named “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR Diagnostic Panel”, corresponds to LOINC 94306-8 SARS Coronavirus 2 RNA panel - Unspecified specimen by NAA with probe detection. This panel code should NOT be used to report results.

For specific information about which codes to use to order and report results for the U.S. CDC RT-PCR test, please see the Association of Public Health Laboratories’ (APHL) website.

Why do all of the SARS-CoV-2 LOINC terms have specific methods?

In general, for common tests, we have methodless codes as well as codes with specific Methods. However, we are still in the early stages of learning about this virus, and we need to gather as much information as possible, so knowing the specific analyte that was tested and the methods that were used is important for tracking the virus, learning about the disease, and finding out which test targets and methods are the most accurate.

How can I download the Special Use prerelease terms?

We have collected SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 related terms on a dedicated page. You can sort and filter these lists of both published and pre-release terms. Once you have signed in to the website, you can export the data to a CSV file. As always, be aware that pre-release terms may change and additional codes may be added. It is imperative for you to keep track of updates.

How to contact us

If you have a question or issue regarding SARS-CoV-2 that is not addressed here or on our Prerelease page, please use our special contact us form.