How to map BiomedicalConceptProperty attributes to BiomedicalConcept

[pendingintent]

There is a question of what correctly represents a BiomedicalConceptProperty for a BiomedicalConcept. I am starting this discussion for others to weigh in on the subject.

[pendingintent]

In the current implementation of the Workbench, the BiomedicalConceptProperty are populated using the dataElementConcepts from the BC API response. In the example below I will use the BC "Glucose Measurement".

API Request URL: https://api.library.cdisc.org/api/cosmos/v2/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C105585

API Reponse JSON:

{
    "_links": {
        "parentBiomedicalConcept": {
            "href": "/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C49237",
            "title": "Chemistry Test",
            "type": "Biomedical Concept"
        },
        "parentPackage": {
            "href": "/mdr/bc/packages/2025-09-23/biomedicalconcepts",
            "title": "Biomedical Concept Package Effective 2025-09-23",
            "type": "Biomedical Concept Package"
        },
        "self": {
            "href": "/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C105585",
            "title": "Glucose Measurement",
            "type": "Biomedical Concept"
        }
    },
    "conceptId": "C105585",
    "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C105585",
    "categories": [
        "Laboratory Tests",
        "Chemistry Tests"
    ],
    "shortName": "Glucose Measurement",
    "synonyms": [
        "Glucose"
    ],
    "resultScales": [
        "Quantitative",
        "Ordinal"
    ],
    "definition": "The determination of the amount of glucose present in a sample.",
    "dataElementConcepts": [
        {
            "conceptId": "C70856",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C70856",
            "shortName": "Observation Result",
            "dataType": "string",
            "ncitCode": "C70856"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C70713",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C70713",
            "shortName": "Biospecimen Type",
            "dataType": "string",
            "exampleSet": [
                "Blood",
                "Plasma",
                "Serum",
                "Urine"
            ],
            "ncitCode": "C70713"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C215501",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C215501",
            "shortName": "Medical Device Identifier",
            "dataType": "string",
            "ncitCode": "C215501"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C82515",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C82515",
            "shortName": "Collection Date Time",
            "dataType": "datetime",
            "ncitCode": "C82515"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C48207",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C48207",
            "shortName": "Unit of Concentration",
            "dataType": "string",
            "exampleSet": [
                "mg/dL",
                "g/L",
                "mmol/L"
            ],
            "ncitCode": "C48207"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C93566",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C93566",
            "shortName": "Fasting Status Indicator",
            "dataType": "boolean",
            "ncitCode": "C93566"
        },
        {
            "conceptId": "C82535",
            "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C82535",
            "shortName": "Test Method",
            "dataType": "string",
            "ncitCode": "C82535"
        }
    ],
    "ncitCode": "C105585"
}

[pendingintent]

The result in the USDM JSON for this Biomedical Conceopt will appear as:

{
    "id": "BiomedicalConcept_104",
    "extensionAttributes": [
      {
        "id": "ExtensionAttribute_90",
        "url": "http://www.cdisc.org/usdm/extensions/specializations/sdtm",
        "valueString": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCBLD",
        "instanceType": "ExtensionAttribute"
      }
    ],
    "name": "Glucose Measurement",
    "label": null,
    "synonyms": [
      "Glucose"
    ],
    "reference": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C105585",
    "properties": [
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_615",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Observation Result",
        "label": "Observation Result",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "string",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2932",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3139",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C70856",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Observation Result",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_616",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Biospecimen Type",
        "label": "Biospecimen Type",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "string",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2933",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3140",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C70713",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Biospecimen Type",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_617",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Medical Device Identifier",
        "label": "Medical Device Identifier",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "string",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2934",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3141",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C215501",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Medical Device Identifier",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_618",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Collection Date Time",
        "label": "Collection Date Time",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "datetime",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2935",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3142",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C82515",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Collection Date Time",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_619",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Unit of Concentration",
        "label": "Unit of Concentration",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "string",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2936",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3143",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C48207",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Unit of Concentration",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_620",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Fasting Status Indicator",
        "label": "Fasting Status Indicator",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "boolean",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2937",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3144",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C93566",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Fasting Status Indicator",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      },
      {
        "id": "BiomedicalConceptProperty_621",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "name": "Test Method",
        "label": "Test Method",
        "isRequired": true,
        "isEnabled": true,
        "datatype": "string",
        "responseCodes": [],
        "code": {
          "id": "AliasCode_2938",
          "standardCode": {
            "id": "Code_3145",
            "extensionAttributes": [],
            "code": "C82535",
            "codeSystem": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov",
            "codeSystemVersion": "1",
            "decode": "Test Method",
            "instanceType": "Code"
          },
          "instanceType": "AliasCode"
        },
        "notes": [],
        "instanceType": "BiomedicalConceptProperty"
      }
    ],
    "code": {
      "id": "AliasCode_1406",
      "extensionAttributes": [],
      "standardCode": {
        "id": "Code_1596",
        "extensionAttributes": [],
        "code": "C105585",
        "codeSystem": "http://www.cdisc.org",
        "codeSystemVersion": "2025-09-23",
        "decode": "Glucose Measurement",
        "instanceType": "Code"
      },
      "standardCodeAliases": [],
      "instanceType": "AliasCode"
    },
    "notes": [],
    "instanceType": "BiomedicalConcept"
  }

[lexjansen]

This looks right to me.

[ASL-rmarshall]

@pendingintent There are a few things about this representation that don't look quite right:

• The url for an extensionAttribute should point to the definition of the extension attribute. I would therefore expect url values to end with something that looks like an attribute name (and probably to have a class name included too, to indicate which USDM (or extension) class the extension attribute belongs to).
• BiomedicalConcept.name must be unique, so it should describe what the instance represents - in this case "Glucose Measurement in Blood". You might have another instance of BiomedicalConcept for "Glucose Measurement in Urine" in the same USDM study definition. Both instances would reference the same BC, but they'd have to have unique names.
• BiomedicalConcept.reference is expected to be a reference to the BC, not the corresponding NCIt entry (e.g., "/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C105585")
• At the moment, you're only showing one instance of each property; each is just a representation of a conceptual BC property and doesn't really contribute anything to the study design (you could just look them up from the BC reference). I think there should be an instance of each property for each use of the property within the study design (see my comment below)

The attached mock-up (usdm_bc_example.json) shows how I think some of these issues might be addressed. Note that I've also added a hasUnitId extension attribute to both instances of the "Observation Result" property to explicitly link the associated instance of the "Unit of Concentration" property. I'm imaging that this attribute could be derived from the "IS_UNIT_OF" predicate term in the SDTM specialization.

[pendingintent]

Sorry for the late reply, @ASL-rmarshall. I have been on holiday. Thank you for the review. I am making changes to the JSON generator for biomedical concepts as a result and intend to write a thorough explanation of the new generator once complete. I will share the latest USDM JSON file with all concepts and their properties for the pilot study.

[pendingintent]

There has been some discussion if the USDM BC could somewhat a ‘virtual’ BC, that is picking elements from the concepts and the DSSes? so the USDM BC would have all the variations that the DSSes have and the terms, but not the SDTM side of things.

[pendingintent]

This is possible. We would need wide agreement on this approach prior to updating the Workbench. This would represent a significant enhancement. I would introduce a new UI page for the mapping of DSS and move the functionality from the Activities UI page.

The relevant information for populating BiomedicalConceptProperty attributes is available through the API for a DSS.

Following the workflow from the Workbench.

1. The user selects a BC to be associated to an Activity (ScheduledActivityInstance).
2. The user selects DSS to associate with the BC (Question: Should this be a one-to-one relationship or a one-to-many?).
3. The user is then presented with the list of variables from the API response for the DSS and selects which of the variables to use.
4. Based on the selections, the variables and their attributes are then used to populate the BiomedicalConceptProperty values.

[pendingintent]

Extend the use-case above.

1. The user selects the DSS "Glucose Concentration in Blood" for the Biomedical Concept "Glucose Measurement". This is done from the exising DSS selection dropdown, which is populated with the API Request https://api.library.cdisc.org/api/cosmos/v2/mdr/specializations/datasetspecializations?biomedicalconcept=C105585.

{
    "_links": {
        "datasetSpecializations": {
            "sdtm": [
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCBLD",
                    "title": "Glucose Concentration in Blood",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCPL",
                    "title": "Glucose Concentration in Plasma",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCSER",
                    "title": "Glucose Concentration in Serum",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCURIN",
                    "title": "Glucose Concentration in Urine",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCUA",
                    "title": "Glucose Presence in Urine by Test Strip",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCURINPRES",
                    "title": "Glucose Presence in Urine",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCPE",
                    "title": "Plasma Equivalent Glucose",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                },
                {
                    "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCSERPL",
                    "title": "Glucose Concentration in Serum or Plasma",
                    "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
                }
            ]
        },
        "self": {
            "href": "/mdr/specializations/datasetspecializations?biomedicalconcept=C105585",
            "title": "Dataset Specializations that specialize a Biomedical Concept",
            "type": "Dataset Specializations List"
        },
        "parentBiomedicalConcept": {
            "href": "/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C105585",
            "title": "Glucose Measurement",
            "type": "Biomedical Concept"
        }
    },
    "name": "Dataset Specializations (latest version)",
    "label": "Dataset Specializations List"
}

2. The user selects the "Glucose Concentration in Blood" DSS to use.

3. An API request is made to https://api.library.cdisc.org/api/cosmos/v2/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCBLD

{
    "_links": {
        "parentBiomedicalConcept": {
            "href": "/mdr/bc/biomedicalconcepts/C105585",
            "title": "Glucose Measurement",
            "type": "Biomedical Concept"
        },
        "parentPackage": {
            "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/packages/2025-12-16/datasetspecializations",
            "title": "SDTM Dataset Specialization Package Effective 2025-12-16",
            "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization Package"
        },
        "self": {
            "href": "/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCBLD",
            "title": "Glucose Concentration in Blood",
            "type": "SDTM Dataset Specialization"
        }
    },
    "datasetSpecializationId": "GLUCBLD",
    "domain": "LB",
    "shortName": "Glucose Concentration in Blood",
    "source": "LB.LBTESTCD",
    "sdtmigStartVersion": "3-2",
    "sdtmigEndVersion": "",
    "variables": [
        {
            "name": "LBTESTCD",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C65047",
                "submissionValue": "LBTESTCD",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C65047"
            },
            "assignedTerm": {
                "conceptId": "C105585",
                "value": "GLUC"
            },
            "role": "Topic",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBTESTCD",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the code for the value in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_DECODED_BY",
                "object": "LBTEST"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": true,
            "comparator": "EQ"
        },
        {
            "name": "LBTEST",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C67154",
                "submissionValue": "LBTEST",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C67154"
            },
            "assignedTerm": {
                "conceptId": "C105585",
                "value": "Glucose"
            },
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBTEST",
                "linkingPhrase": "decodes the value in",
                "predicateTerm": "DECODES",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBCAT",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "assignedTerm": {
                "value": "CHEMISTRY"
            },
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBCAT",
                "linkingPhrase": "groups values in",
                "predicateTerm": "GROUPS",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false
        },
        {
            "name": "LBORRES",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C70856",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "dataType": "float",
            "length": 12,
            "format": "12.4",
            "significantDigits": 4,
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBORRES",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the result of the test in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_RESULT_OF",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "originType": "Collected",
            "originSource": "Vendor",
            "vlmTarget": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBORRESU",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C48207",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C71620",
                "submissionValue": "UNIT",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C71620"
            },
            "valueList": [
                "mg/dL",
                "mmol/L"
            ],
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBORRESU",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the unit for the value in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_UNIT_FOR",
                "object": "LBORRES"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "vlmTarget": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBSTRESC",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C70856",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBSTRESC",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the result of the test in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_RESULT_OF",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "originType": "Collected",
            "originSource": "Vendor",
            "vlmTarget": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBSTRESN",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C70856",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBSTRESN",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the result of the test in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_RESULT_OF",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "originType": "Collected",
            "originSource": "Vendor",
            "vlmTarget": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBSTRESU",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C48207",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C71620",
                "submissionValue": "UNIT",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C71620"
            },
            "assignedTerm": {
                "conceptId": "C64387",
                "value": "mmol/L"
            },
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBSTRESU",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the unit for the value in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_UNIT_FOR",
                "object": "LBSTRESN"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "vlmTarget": true
        },
        {
            "name": "LBLOINC",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "valueList": [
                "2339-0",
                "15074-8"
            ],
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBLOINC",
                "linkingPhrase": "identifies an observation described by",
                "predicateTerm": "IDENTIFIES_OBSERVATION",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": false,
            "mandatoryValue": false
        },
        {
            "name": "LBSPEC",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C70713",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C78734",
                "submissionValue": "SPECTYPE",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C78734"
            },
            "assignedTerm": {
                "conceptId": "C12434",
                "value": "BLOOD"
            },
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBSPEC",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the specimen tested in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_SPECIMEN_TESTED_IN",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false,
            "comparator": "EQ"
        },
        {
            "name": "LBMETHOD",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C82535",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C85492",
                "submissionValue": "METHOD",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C85492"
            },
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBMETHOD",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the method for the test in",
                "predicateTerm": "SPECIFIES",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false
        },
        {
            "name": "LBFAST",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C93566",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "codelist": {
                "conceptId": "C66742",
                "submissionValue": "NY",
                "href": "https://evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov/evsexplore/concept/ncit/C66742"
            },
            "subsetCodelist": "NY_NY",
            "valueList": [
                "N",
                "Y"
            ],
            "role": "Qualifier",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBFAST",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the subject's fasting status during the performance of the test in",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_SUBJECT_STATE_FOR",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": false,
            "mandatoryValue": false
        },
        {
            "name": "LBDTC",
            "dataElementConceptId": "C82515",
            "isNonStandard": false,
            "role": "Timing",
            "relationship": {
                "subject": "LBDTC",
                "linkingPhrase": "is the date of occurrence for",
                "predicateTerm": "IS_TIMING_FOR",
                "object": "LBTESTCD"
            },
            "mandatoryVariable": true,
            "mandatoryValue": false
        }
    ]
}

4. The user then selects from a list of DSS variables from the request.

[pendingintent]

I am sure there are other things to consider, so please add comments/suggestions.

[KWLangendorf]

In Analysis Concepts Model - library - we will specify templates. So as an example we will need to specify which 'concept' the transformation is using. We can pick stuff from USDM in this way (our current approach - to be discussed):

and for unit:

But we lack a generic concept to refer to (like unit) as many of the properties are specific for the BC - eg. Unit of Weight, Unit of Concentration.We are specifying in our templates a unit conversion for {parameter} (which will the be specific at study usage). We could leave the BCs as they are but then make that generic model (like the pink node in the image) ? or put in the SDTM model generic name+code '--orresu' as part of the BC property definition (see the generic name in the green nodes being the BC Properties for unit across all BCs I have in my database)?

[lexjansen]

@KWLangendorf Doesn’t the USDM have a Weight BC or a Height BC, and associated DSS references?

[KWLangendorf]

yes, but when we specify e.g. a unit conversion transformation that is to sit in a library we don't know which BC is it going to be applied to. So we need to refer to dec_ids (BC property types), and as we have discussed there is some variability on these especially on units. Seems a bit odd to refer to both dec_id:'Unit of Weight', 'Unit of Concentration' etc. Would be simpler of we could just refer to 'Unit' or '--orresu'

[ASL-rmarshall]

@KWLangendorf If the "as collected" and "standardized" observation results and units are represented as separate instances of BiomedicalConceptProperty, and each have a reference to a DEC, can't you just reference the "Observation Result" BC property and use the "IS_UNIT_FOR" predicate term to identify the relevant unit and value DECs?

[ASL-rmarshall]

The predicate term could be represented in USDM as an extension attribute to link related instances of BiomedicalConceptProperty - e.g., either isUnitForId on an instance of BiomedicalConceptProperty for "Unit of <whatever>" containing the id value of the corresponding instance of BiomedicalConceptProperty for "Observation Result" or, if preferred, hasUnitId on the observation result.

[KWLangendorf]

I can, but I think we need to look at the usage of dec-ids in general. Also it would we inconsistent that units are referenced in a different way that any other dec_id.

[pendingintent]

I do not believe '--orresu' should be included as part of the BC property definition. The DSS associated with the BC will have --ORRESU and --ORRES as variables linked from the DSS to the BC. However, a user would have to make this association. The DSS variables are not included in the Biomedical Concept properties. THis data is not included in the USDM.

[pendingintent]

The CDISC Library API is used to return all properties, i.e., variables, for a DSS associated with a BC.

https://api.library.cdisc.org/api/cosmos/v2/mdr/specializations/sdtm/datasetspecializations/GLUCBLD

[pendingintent]

I now have the information required to implement BiomdicalConceptProperty in the USDM JSON and have decided to follow the approach already used in the PyPi usdm module (see cdisc_bc_library.py).

Once I have completed the work, I will document in a discussion to allow for follow up comments.

Thank you everyone for your comments and help :)