In an era defined by digital health transformation and data-driven care, Finland continues to lead in diagnostic interoperability, public reimbursement integration and laboratory standardisation. At the heart of this ecosystem lies a quietly powerful framework: the Finnish Laboratory Tests Nomenclature (Laboratoriotutkimusnimikkeistö), a central classification system maintained by theFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
This structured nomenclature not only standardises diagnostic ordering and reporting across Finland’s health system but also ensures that public reimbursement remains aligned with evolving medical science.
On 12 May 2025, THL published the latest update to this national classification, set to come into force on 1 June 2025. This version introduces 21 new codes, ranging from advanced lipid profiling to molecular microbiology. These additions reflect both clinical demand and the growing role of genomics and precision diagnostics in frontline healthcare.
The Laboratory Tests Nomenclature has one primary mission: to provide a unified language for diagnostic tests across all care settings. Whether a test is ordered in a public hospital, a private lab or a digital telehealth platform, the same code system applies. This framework supports:
- Physicians, by enabling precise test ordering
- Laboratories, through streamlined test processing and billing
- EHR and LIS vendors, by anchoring interoperability
- KELA (the Finnish national insurance institution), by linking clinical activity to reimbursable services
- Public health authorities, through nationally harmonised statistics and surveillance
The nomenclature includes tests in clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, pathology, genetics, neurophysiology and other specialties. Crucially, it supports both the public and private sectors, bridging Finland’s hybrid healthcare model.
With healthcare advancing rapidly, the nomenclature must evolve. As mentioned, in its 2025 edition, THL introduced 21 new test codes, each representing clinically significant or emerging diagnostics. Selected highlights include:
| Code | Test Name | Description |
| 7907 | fP-non-HDL cholesterol | A lipid measure gaining traction in cardiovascular risk stratification. |
| 7912 | S-Folate | Reflects updated serum-based detection of folate deficiency. |
| 7913 | P-ADAMTS13, activity | A critical test for diagnosing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). |
| 7921 | E-Red blood cell size distribution (smear test) | Enhances morphological evaluation in haematology. |
| 7926 | Bacteria, whole genome sequencing (WGS) | Marks the growing clinical application of genomics in infection control and AMR surveillance. |
Each of these codes comes with a prefix indicating the specimen type—for example, fP (fasting plasma), S (serum), or E (erythrocyte)—ensuring that both pre-analytical conditions and analytic specificity are clearly captured.
Beyond billing and laboratory workflows, the nomenclature plays a vital role in digital health infrastructure. It is fully integrated with Kanta Services, Finland’s national eHealth platform, supporting:
- Longitudinal access to lab results
- Seamless cross-institutional data exchange
- National research registries
- Clinical decision support tools
This system architecture ensures that a diagnostic test ordered in Helsinki can be reviewed, reimbursed and acted upon in Lapland, or even from a home-based digital care setting.
The nomenclature is more than a coding list, it is a bridge between diagnostics and health economics. Only tests that are officially listed with a valid code can be billed for public reimbursement via KELA, even in private care settings. This means that diagnostic innovation must be coupled with timely engagement with THL to ensure code inclusion – a critical step for market access in Finland.
Because coding is closely tied to health system statistics and payment flows, inclusion of new diagnostics, such as genomic testing or ADAMTS13 activity, signals formal recognition of both their clinical value and policy relevance.
The Laboratory Tests Nomenclature is dynamic, regularly reviewed by working groups that include:
- THL
- Finnish Medical Association
- Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry and Pathology
- KELA
- IT system vendors and hospital districts
Health technology developers can submit proposals for new test codes, supported by clinical rationale, international uses and data on reimbursement practices elsewhere in Europe.
For developers of diagnostic tests, precision tools, or AI-supported lab solutions, understanding and navigating this system is essential. It is not enough to prove analytical validity; to access reimbursement in Finland, your test must:
- Be clinically accepted and align with national diagnostic pathways.
- Be coded within the Laboratory Tests Nomenclature.
- Be reportable through national systems like Kanta.
- Support KELA integration for reimbursement, especially critical in private sector deployments.
Whether you are launching a new molecular assay or enabling real-time clinical decision support from lab data, code inclusion is a key success milestone.
The Finnish Laboratory Tests Nomenclature is a technical cornerstone of one of Europe’s most advanced healthcare systems. The 2025 update reinforces Finland’s commitment to evidence-based diagnostics, precision medicine and digital health readiness.
For patients, it means consistency and accessibility.
For physicians, it means clarity and continuity of care.
For innovators, it means that successful market entry requires early engagement, not just with clinicians, but with coders and policymakers too.
To explore the 2025 update (in Finnish) please click on the following link: THL Koodistopalvelu bulletin 50/2025