Category

Synonym

Kind, type, class, classifications, grouping, sort

Definition in words

Kind-of-nominal-property indicating a class among nominal properties ordered according to nominal property values of a specified nominal property value set without relation to size (Ref 1)

Systematic terms

Category of component B in system 1

Result type

Nominal description
  • Value sets are words
  • Algebraic operations are not allowed
  • Possible comparison of value sets (a=b; a≠b)

Special rule(s) in the NPU syntax 

“Procedure” is stated in the specification to the kind-of-property in the NPU definition

“Procedure” indicates that the measurement procedure must be stated somewhere else than the NPU code and there may be difficulties in comparing values for the same NPU code.

In order, to pinpoint the category in which the value sets belong to, the specific category can be stated in the specification to the kind-of-property.

Reference

  1. Nordin G, Dybkaer R, Forsum U, Fuentes-Arderiu X, Pontet F. Vocabulary on nominal property, examination, and related concepts for clinical laboratory sciences (IFCC-IUPAC Recommendations 2017). Pure and Applied Chemistry. 2017:23.
  2. Ferard G, Dybkaer R, Fuentes-Arderiu X. Compendium of Terminology and Nomenclature of Properties in Clinical Laboratory Sciences : Recommendations 2016. 1 ed: Royal Society of Chemistry; 2016. 182 p. Doi:10.1039/9781782622451.

Laboratory field

Examples

Clinical Chemistry

 

 

Example 1
Generic abbreviated form NPU09106 U—Bence Jones’ protein; categori(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU09106 Urine—Bence Jones’ protein; categori(procedure) = kappa
Abbreviated form with a result NPU09106 U—Bence Jones’ protein; categori(proc.) = kappa
Written expression The category of Bence Jones’ protein in Mrs. Smith’s urine is [kappa], according to a category, derfined by the laboratory. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes The category of Bence Jones’ protein is defined by the laboratory.

Clinical Immunology and Blood Banking

Example 2
Generic abbreviated form NPU29291 Csf—Aberrant cell population; category(phenotype;proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU29291 Cerebrospinal fluid—Aberrant cell population; category(phenotype;procedure) = Aberrant B cells(CD19VCD10+)
Abbreviated form with a result NPU29291 Csf—Aberrant cell population; category(phenotype;proc.) = Aberrant B cells(CD19VCD10+)
Written expression The category of Aberrant cell population in Mrs. Smith’s cerebrospinal fluid is [Aberrant B cells(CD19VCD10+)], according to a phenotype category, derfined by the laboratory. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes The phenotype category of aberrant cell populationin this case is defined by the laboratory. In this case, it is described in: Finn WG, Peterson LC, James C, Goolsby CL. Enhanced detection of malignant lymphoma in cerebrospinal fluid by multiparameter flow cytometry. Am J Clin Pathol. 1998;110(3):341-6.
Example 3
Generic abbreviated form NPU58582 Ercs(B)—Erythrocyte antigen; category(ABO; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU58582 Erythrocytes(Blood)—Erythrocyte antigen; category(ABO; procedure) = Blood Group B
Abbreviated form with a result NPU58582 Ercs(B)—Erythrocyte antigen; category(ABO; proc.) = Group B
Written expression The category of Erythrocyte antigen in Mrs. Smith’s blood is [Group B], according to the ABO blood group system. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes The ABO blood group system, category of Erythrocyte antigen, is defined by the International Society of Blood Transfusion.

Clinical Microbiology

 

Example 4
Generic abbreviated form NPU57507 P—Hepatitis C virus(RNA); category(genotype; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU57507 Plasma—Hepatitis C virus(RNA); category(genotype; procedure = HCV genotype 1
Abbreviated form with a result NPU57507 P—Hepatitis C virus(RNA); category(genotype; proc.) =HCV genotype 1
Written expression The category of Hepatitis C virus(RNA) in Mrs. Smith’s plasma is [HCV genotype 1], according to a genotype of Hepatitis C virus. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes

The genotype category of Hepatitis C virus is defined by the laboratory.

In this case, the category is defined by the laboratory that refers to “Smith DB, Bukh J, Kuiken C, Muerhoff AS, Rice CM, Stapleton JT, et al. Expanded classification of hepatitis C virus into 7 genotypes and 67 subtypes: updated criteria and genotype assignment web resource. Hepatology. 2014;59(1):318-27.”

Molecular Biology and Genetics

Example 5
Generic abbreviated form NPU57580 Chroms(spec.)—Chromosome 14; category(disomy type; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU57580 Chromosomes(specification)—Chromosome 14; category(disomy type; procedure) = Maternal uniparental disomy
Abbreviated form with a result NPU57580 Chroms(spec.)—Chromosome 14; category(disomy type; proc.) = Maternal uniparental disomy
Written expression The category of Chromosome 14 of Chromosomes in Mrs. Smith’s blood is [Maternal uniparental disomy], according to a disomy type. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes The disomy category of chromosome 14 is defined by the laboratory.

Toxicology

Example 6
Generic abbreviated form NPU04578 U—Diuretic drug; category(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU04578 Urine—Diuretic drug; category(procedure) =Thiazides
Abbreviated form with a result NPU04578 U—Diuretic drug; category(proc.) = Thiazides
Written expression The category of Diuretic drug in Mrs. Smith’s urine is [Thiazides], according to a category, derfined by the laboratory. The examination is perfomed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory.
Notes The category of Diuretic drug is defined by the laboratory.

Reference

NPU database, https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-scientific-division/sd-committees/c-npu/npusearch/ and http://www.labterm.dk/default.aspx
  • Kind-of-property

    • Nominal kind-of-property

      • Category

Reference

  • Dybkaer R. Concept system on ‘quantity’: formation and terminology. Accredit Qual Assur. 2013;18(3):253-60.
  • Dybkaer R. ISO terminological analysis of the VIM3 concepts ‘quantity’ and ‘kind-of-quantity’. Metrologia. 2010;47(3):127-34.
Date Term Note Reference
2017-06-29 Category

Term established.

Replaced the kind-of-property “taxon” in NPU codes and in which “procedure” was added in the specification to the kind-of-property.

C-SC-NPU 2017-11 Copenhagen minutes
Date Notes

Example

2019-04-05 Category was first described in 2017. It an unclassified kind-of-nominal property that is a superior concept to e.g. taxon. Category is any kind-of-nominal property, opposite to taxon that is an iinternational and hierarchical kind-of-nominal property. C-SC-NPU 2017-11 Copenhagen minutes  
2019-04-05 Category has replaced taxon (with procedure) in NPU codes, in which the value sets are in a non-hierarchical kind-of-nominal property.

2018-05-14: NPU09106 U—Bence Jones’ protein; category(proc.) = ?

1997-09-24: NPU09106 U—Bence Jones’ protein; taxon(proc.) = ?