# Difference between 10160-0 and 8677-7

**URL:** <https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [August 19, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094 "2024-08-19T14:10:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/c77e96/32.png) [@vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/u/vorona)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094/1 "2024-08-19T14:10:20Z")

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what is the difference in using the codes 10160-0 # History of Medication use Narrative and 8677-7 # History of Medication use?  
please provide examples of use

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**Author:** ![pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/u/pdbanning)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094/2 "2024-08-19T20:01:42Z")

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Thank you very much for the question and welcome to the Forum. The scale attribute is the only distinguishing factor between 10160-0 (nom) and 8677-7 (nar).

Nominal (nom) scale holds result formats as very short texts: Provided; Not Provided; No medications taken

Narrative (nar)scale however holds much larger amount of text; I could envision an actual list of medications, dosages and date last taken.

Reply here with further questions,  
Hope this helps!

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**Author:** ![vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/c77e96/32.png) [@vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/u/vorona)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094/4 "2024-08-20T08:07:36Z")

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Thank you  
where can i read the description of the scales

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**Author:** ![pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@pdbanning](https://forum.loinc.org/u/pdbanning)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094/5 "2024-08-20T13:36:21Z")

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The Knowledge Base contains all documentation for LOINC. [Knowledge Base – LOINC](https://loinc.org/kb/)  
See the User’s Guide tile and under Chapter 2 Major Parts of a LOINC…you will find the scale attribute.

All the best,  
Pam

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**Author:** ![vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/c77e96/32.png) [@vorona](https://forum.loinc.org/u/vorona)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/difference-between-10160-0-and-8677-7/2094/6 "2024-08-20T16:25:42Z")

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please tell me what values ​​should be in “8677-7 History of medication use”? any defined by our business processes?