Description inactivation values
Depending upon the combination of the type of component and the reason for inactivation, a specific inactivation reason must be selected.
| Inactivation value | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Not semantically equivalent component (foundation metadata concept) | A description does not represent the same meaning as the concept's Fully Specified Name (FSN) | Removal of device (procedure) has a synonym, Replacement of prosthetic device (procedure), which should be inactivated because the synonym has a more specific meaning than the FSN. |
| Outdated component (foundation metadata concept) | A component is no longer current, useful, appropriate or acceptable | The synonym Compression facies was inactivated from the concept's more modern description of Facial asymmetry. |
| Grammatical description error (foundation metadata concept) | A component contains a technical error. The error in the description is grammatical or a spelling mistake, which when corrected does not change the meaning of the concept. Where the meaning is changed, the concept should be inactivated using Erroneous component. | Case significance error: Alpha should have a lower case a Spelling error: Asthma misspelled as Assthma |
| Nonconformance to editorial policy component (foundation metadata concept) | A component fails to comply with the current editorial guidance | The concept Urine: turbid (finding) was inactivated and replaced by 167238004 | Turbid urine (finding)| |
Order of selection of inactivation values
When there is more than one reason to inactivate a description, the order of preference for the inactivation value is as follows:
- 723278000 | Not semantically equivalent component (foundation metadata concept)|
- 900000000000483008 | Outdated component (foundation metadata concept)|
- 1217318005 | Grammatical description error (foundation metadata concept)|
- 723277005 | Nonconformance to editorial policy component (foundation metadata concept)|
Corresponding association type
Only the description inactivation value of Not semantically equivalent component requires an association type; the association type is Refers to and necessitates the reference to at least one active SNOMED CT concept. It is possible that the description is ambiguous and may relate to more than one concept.
The other three description inactivation values (outdated, grammatical error, nonconformance) do not require an associated concept.
See also, Changes in FSN, on the Fully Specified Name page.
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