--- type: "resource" title: "SubstanceDefinition" resource: "SubstanceDefinition" --- # SubstanceDefinition ## Introduction ## Scope and Usage **_For an overview of this resource and others in the Medication Definition domain, also see the [module page](medication-definition-module)_** SubstanceDefinition is used for rich descriptions of substances, of any type, to support the detailed definition of medications, and in particular their ingredients (see [Ingredient](ingredient)) and manufacturing. This is a definitional resource describing types of substances, to a varying degree of specificity. It can cover the substance in the abstract (properties that this substance always has), or a particular variety of it, such as one manufacturer's version, or a certain presentation (e.g. "granulated"). However it is always a type and does not represent an actual physical instance of a substance. By contrast the [Substance](substance) resource can act as either a concise definition (a subset of SubstanceDefinition) or as an instance (an actual batch). SubstanceDefinition is not generally used directly to represent an ingredient, nor as a product that is given to a patient. When acting as an ingredient, the [Ingredient](ingredient) resource gives the context necessary (strength, role etc.) and, within it, uses this resource to describe the substance. Any substance that is to be used as medication would be considered a medicinal product (even a plain one such as water) and as such would be described using [MedicinalProductDefinition](medicinalproductdefinition) or for a concise summary suitable for day-to-day prescribing, [Medication](medication). ## StructureDefinition ### Elements (Simplified) - **[SubstanceDefinition](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition)** [0..*]: - The detailed description of a substance, typically at a level beyond what is used for prescribing - **[SubstanceDefinition.identifier](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.identifier)** [0..*]: [Identifier](/Identifier) Identifier by which this substance is known - **[SubstanceDefinition.version](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.version)** [0..1]: [string](/string) A business level edition or revision identifier - **[SubstanceDefinition.status](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.status)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[publication-status](/valueset-publication-status) Status of substance within the catalogue e.g. active, retired - **[SubstanceDefinition.classification](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.classification)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) A categorization, high level e.g. polymer or nucleic acid, or food, chemical, biological, or lower e.g. polymer linear or branch chain, or type of impurity - **[SubstanceDefinition.domain](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.domain)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[medicinal-product-domain](/valueset-medicinal-product-domain) The applicable usage of the substance, as an example human or veterinary - **[SubstanceDefinition.grade](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.grade)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-grade](/valueset-substance-grade) The quality standard, established benchmark, to which substance complies (e.g. USP/NF, BP) - **[SubstanceDefinition.description](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.description)** [0..1]: [markdown](/markdown) Textual description of the substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.note](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.note)** [0..*]: [Annotation](/Annotation) Textual comment about the substance's catalogue or registry record - **[SubstanceDefinition.manufacturer](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.manufacturer)** [0..*]: Reference([Organization](/Organization)) The entity that creates, makes, produces or fabricates the substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.supplier](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.supplier)** [0..*]: Reference([Organization](/Organization)) An entity that is the source for the substance. It may be different from the manufacturer - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Moiety, for structural modifications - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.role](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.role)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) Role that the moiety is playing - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.identifier](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.identifier)** [0..1]: [Identifier](/Identifier) Identifier by which this moiety substance is known - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.name](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.name)** [0..1]: [string](/string) Textual name for this moiety substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.stereochemistry](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.stereochemistry)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-stereochemistry](/valueset-substance-stereochemistry) Stereochemistry type - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.opticalActivity](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.opticalActivity)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-optical-activity](/valueset-substance-optical-activity) Optical activity type - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.molecularFormula](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.molecularFormula)** [0..1]: [string](/string) Molecular formula for this moiety (e.g. with the Hill system) - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.amount[x]](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.amount%5Bx%5D)** [0..1]: [Quantity](/Quantity), [string](/string) Quantitative value for this moiety - **[SubstanceDefinition.moiety.measurementType](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.moiety.measurementType)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-amount-type](/valueset-substance-amount-type) The measurement type of the quantitative value - **[SubstanceDefinition.characterization](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.characterization)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) General specifications for this substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.characterization.technique](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.characterization.technique)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-structure-technique](/valueset-substance-structure-technique) The method used to find the characterization e.g. HPLC - **[SubstanceDefinition.characterization.form](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.characterization.form)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-form](/valueset-substance-form) Describes the nature of the chemical entity and explains, for instance, whether this is a base or a salt form - **[SubstanceDefinition.characterization.description](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.characterization.description)** [0..1]: [markdown](/markdown) The description or justification in support of the interpretation of the data file - **[SubstanceDefinition.characterization.file](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.characterization.file)** [0..*]: [Attachment](/Attachment) The data produced by the analytical instrument or a pictorial representation of that data. Examples: a JCAMP, JDX, or ADX file, or a chromatogram or spectrum analysis - **[SubstanceDefinition.property](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.property)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) General specifications for this substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.property.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.property.type)** [1..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[product-characteristic-codes](/valueset-product-characteristic-codes) A code expressing the type of property - **[SubstanceDefinition.property.value[x]](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.property.value%5Bx%5D)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept), [Quantity](/Quantity), [Range](/Range), [date](/date), [boolean](/boolean), [Attachment](/Attachment) A value for the property - **[SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) The average mass of a molecule of a compound - **[SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.method](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.method)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-weight-method](/valueset-substance-weight-method) The method by which the weight was determined - **[SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.type)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-weight-type](/valueset-substance-weight-type) Type of molecular weight e.g. exact, average, weight average - **[SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.amount](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.molecularWeight.amount)** [1..1]: [Quantity](/Quantity) Used to capture quantitative values for a variety of elements - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure)** [0..1]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Structural information - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.stereochemistry](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.stereochemistry)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-stereochemistry](/valueset-substance-stereochemistry) Stereochemistry type - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.opticalActivity](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.opticalActivity)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-optical-activity](/valueset-substance-optical-activity) Optical activity type - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularFormula](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularFormula)** [0..1]: [string](/string) An expression which states the number and type of atoms present in a molecule of a substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularFormulaByMoiety](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularFormulaByMoiety)** [0..1]: [string](/string) Specified per moiety according to the Hill system - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularWeight](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.molecularWeight)** [0..1]: - The molecular weight or weight range - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.technique](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.technique)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-structure-technique](/valueset-substance-structure-technique) The method used to find the structure e.g. X-ray, NMR - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.sourceDocument](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.sourceDocument)** [0..*]: Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference)) Source of information for the structure - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) A depiction of the structure of the substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.type)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-representation-type](/valueset-substance-representation-type) The kind of structural representation (e.g. full, partial) - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.representation](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.representation)** [0..1]: [string](/string) The structural representation as a text string in a standard format - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.format](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.format)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-representation-format](/valueset-substance-representation-format) The format of the representation e.g. InChI, SMILES, MOLFILE (note: not the physical file format) - **[SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.document](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.structure.representation.document)** [0..1]: Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference)) An attachment with the structural representation e.g. a structure graphic or AnIML file - **[SubstanceDefinition.code](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Codes associated with the substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.code.code](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code.code)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) The specific code - **[SubstanceDefinition.code.status](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code.status)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[publication-status](/valueset-publication-status) Status of the code assignment, for example 'provisional', 'approved' - **[SubstanceDefinition.code.statusDate](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code.statusDate)** [0..1]: [dateTime](/dateTime) The date at which the code status was changed - **[SubstanceDefinition.code.note](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code.note)** [0..*]: [Annotation](/Annotation) Any comment can be provided in this field - **[SubstanceDefinition.code.source](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.code.source)** [0..*]: Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference)) Supporting literature - **[SubstanceDefinition.name](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Names applicable to this substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.name](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.name)** [1..1]: [string](/string) The actual name - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.type)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-name-type](/valueset-substance-name-type) Name type e.g. 'systematic', 'scientific, 'brand' - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.status](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.status)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[publication-status](/valueset-publication-status) The status of the name e.g. 'current', 'proposed' - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.preferred](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.preferred)** [0..1]: [boolean](/boolean) If this is the preferred name for this substance - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.language](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.language)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) required:[all-languages](/valueset-all-languages) Human language that the name is written in - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.domain](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.domain)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-name-domain](/valueset-substance-name-domain) The use context of this name e.g. as an active ingredient or as a food colour additive - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.jurisdiction](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.jurisdiction)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[jurisdiction](/valueset-jurisdiction) The jurisdiction where this name applies - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.synonym](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.synonym)** [0..*]: - A synonym of this particular name, by which the substance is also known - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.translation](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.translation)** [0..*]: - A translation for this name into another human language - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.official](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.official)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Details of the official nature of this name - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.official.authority](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.official.authority)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[substance-name-authority](/valueset-substance-name-authority) Which authority uses this official name - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.official.status](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.official.status)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[publication-status](/valueset-publication-status) The status of the official name, for example 'draft', 'active' - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.official.date](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.official.date)** [0..1]: [dateTime](/dateTime) Date of official name change - **[SubstanceDefinition.name.source](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.name.source)** [0..*]: Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference)) Supporting literature - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship)** [0..*]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) A link between this substance and another - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.substanceDefinition[x]](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.substanceDefinition%5Bx%5D)** [0..1]: Reference([SubstanceDefinition](/SubstanceDefinition)), [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) A pointer to another substance, as a resource or a representational code - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.type)** [1..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-relationship-type](/valueset-substance-relationship-type) For example "salt to parent", "active moiety" - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.isDefining](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.isDefining)** [0..1]: [boolean](/boolean) For example where an enzyme strongly bonds with a particular substance, this is a defining relationship for that enzyme, out of several possible relationships - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.amount[x]](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.amount%5Bx%5D)** [0..1]: [Quantity](/Quantity), [Ratio](/Ratio), [string](/string) A numeric factor for the relationship, e.g. that a substance salt has some percentage of active substance in relation to some other - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.ratioHighLimitAmount](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.ratioHighLimitAmount)** [0..1]: [Ratio](/Ratio) For use when the numeric has an uncertain range - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.comparator](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.comparator)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-amount-type](/valueset-substance-amount-type) An operator for the amount, for example "average", "approximately", "less than" - **[SubstanceDefinition.relationship.source](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.relationship.source)** [0..*]: Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference)) Supporting literature - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial)** [0..1]: [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement) Material or taxonomic/anatomical source - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.type](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.type)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-source-material-type](/valueset-substance-source-material-type) Classification of the origin of the raw material. e.g. cat hair is an Animal source type - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.genus](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.genus)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-source-material-genus](/valueset-substance-source-material-genus) The genus of an organism e.g. the Latin epithet of the plant/animal scientific name - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.species](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.species)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-source-material-species](/valueset-substance-source-material-species) The species of an organism e.g. the Latin epithet of the species of the plant/animal - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.part](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.part)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) example:[substance-source-material-part](/valueset-substance-source-material-part) An anatomical origin of the source material within an organism - **[SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.countryOfOrigin](/substancedefinition-definitions#SubstanceDefinition.sourceMaterial.countryOfOrigin)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) required:[country](/valueset-country) The country or countries where the material is harvested ## Mappings - [SubstanceDefinition Mappings](/substancedefinition-mappings) — 80 mapping entries ## Resource Packs ### list-SubstanceDefinition-packs.xml ```xml ``` ## Search Parameters - [classification](/substancedefinition-search#classification) — **token** — High or low level categorization, e.g. polymer vs. nucleic acid or linear vs. branch chain — `SubstanceDefinition.classification` - [code](/substancedefinition-search#code) — **token** — The specific code — `SubstanceDefinition.code.code` - [domain](/substancedefinition-search#domain) — **token** — If the substance applies to only human or veterinary use — `SubstanceDefinition.domain` - [identifier](/substancedefinition-search#identifier) — **token** — Identifier by which this substance is known — `SubstanceDefinition.identifier` - [name](/substancedefinition-search#name) — **string** — The actual name — `SubstanceDefinition.name.name` - [status](/substancedefinition-search#status) — **token** — Status of substance within the catalogue e.g. active, retired — `SubstanceDefinition.status` [Full Search Parameters](/substancedefinition-search) ## Examples - [example](/substancedefinition-example-example) — substancedefinition-example — Example of substancedefinition - [substancedefinition-example](/substancedefinition-example-substancedefinition-example) — substancedefinition-example - [substancedefinition-examples-header](/substancedefinition-example-substancedefinition-examples-header) — substancedefinition-examples-header [Full Examples](/substancedefinition-examples)