Frequently Asked Question

A Value Set is a defined set of values that a variable can take.

Example: For the variable Laterality, the possible values are: left, right and bilateral.

Together those three values form the value set for the variable "laterality".

Value sets can consist of a collection of figures (discrete values), words (a dictionnary) or codes out of a classification or a terminology. A value set made of SNOMED CT concepts is called a SNOMED CT (simple) Reference set or Refset.