Glossary
A
Access keys
A code that is used as a unique identifier and provides a secret token for authentication purposes.
Access Tokens
Access tokens are used in token-based authentication to allow an application to access an API.
Application Programming Interface (API)
A software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other.
B
Biomarker
A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease.
C
Client-credentials grant type
The client-credentials grant type is used by clients to obtain an access token outside of the context of a user. This is typically used by clients to access resources about themselves rather than to access a user's resources.
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 are United States federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States, except clinical trials and basic research.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
The primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time.
G
Genotype
The genotype of an organism is its complete set of genetic material. Genotype can also be used to refer to the alleles or variants an individual carries in a particular gene or genetic location.
GET
A HTTP method that retrieves data from a server at the specified resource.
Globally Unique Identifier (GUID)
Also known as a universally unique identifier. A 128-bit integer number is used to identify resources.
H
Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC)
A message authentication code that uses a cryptographic key with a hash function.
Health Level 7 (HL7)
Health Level Seven or HL7 refers to a set of international standards for the transfer of clinical and administrative data between software applications used by various healthcare providers.
Hepatitis B (HBV)
A vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
Hepatitis C (HCV)
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
High-density lipoprotein is one of the five major groups of lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are complex particles composed of multiple proteins which transport all fat molecules around the body within the water outside cells.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo, which eventually forms the placenta after implantation.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS )
A protocol where encrypted HTTP data is transferred over a secure connection.
I
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. The organization develops and publishes worldwide technical, industrial, and commercial standards.
J
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
A standard text-based format for representing structured data based on JavaScript object syntax. It is commonly used for transmitting data in web applications.
JSON Web Token (JWT)
An open standard for securely transmitting information as a JSON object. Tokens are signed either using a private secret or a public/private key.
L
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Low-density lipoprotein is one of the five major groups of lipoprotein that transport all fat molecules around the body in the extracellular water.
M
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)
An Internet standard that extends the format of email messages to support text in character sets other than ASCII, as well as attachments of audio, video, images, and application programs.
N
National Provider Identifier (NPI)
A National Provider Identifier is a unique, 10-digit identification number issued to healthcare providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
O
OAuth 2.0
The OAuth 2.0 authorization framework is a protocol that allows a user to grant a third-party website or application access to the user's protected resources, without necessarily revealing their long-term credentials or even their identity.
OBX segment
The OBX segment is used to transmit a single observation or observation fragment. It represents the smallest indivisible unit of a report. The OBX segment can also contain encapsulated data, for example, a CDA document or a DICOM image. Its principal mission is to carry information about observations in report messages.
P
Phenotype
The set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism. The term covers the organism's morphology or physical form and structure, its developmental processes, its biochemical and physiological properties, its behavior, and the products of behavior.
Primary Care Physician OR Primary Care Provider (PCP)
- Primary Care Physician: A physician (Medical Doctor) who directly provides or coordinates a range of health care services for a patient. Such physicians are specifically trained to provide comprehensive primary care services through residency or fellowship training in acute and chronic care settings.
- Primary Care Provider: A physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant, as allowed under state law, who provides, coordinates, or helps a patient access a range of health care services.
Protected Health Information OR Personal Health Information (PHI)
Under HIPAA, PHI is considered to be any identifiable health information that is used, maintained, stored, or transmitted by a HIPAA-covered entity – a healthcare provider, health plan or health insurer, or a healthcare clearinghouse – or a business associate of a HIPAA-covered entity, concerning the provision of healthcare or payment for healthcare services.
POST
A HTTP method that is used to create a resource.
PUT
A HTTP method used to update a resource. If the resource doesn't exist, it creates a new resource.
R
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction. It is primarily used to measure the amount of a specific RNA.
S
Secret access key
A key that is used with the access key ID to cryptographically sign programmatic AWS requests. Signing a request identifies the sender and prevents the request from being altered.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
A strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the respiratory illness responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are very common. Millions of new infections occur every year in the United States. STDs pass from one person to another through vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
T
Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA)
A clinical syndrome by the presence of hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), low platelets, and organ damage due to the formation of microscopic blood clots in capillaries and small arteries.
U
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
A Uniform Resource Locator, colloquially termed a web address, is a reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network and a mechanism for retrieving it.
W
Webhook
Webhooks allow one program to send data to another as soon as a particular event occurs. They deliver real-time updates to your application as soon as the updates are available, and are less resource intensive than APIs.
