MedDRA is a beneficial system which bridges the language barriers of medical professionals throughout the world. This system allows for medical product coding to be uniform across the world which leads to a more uniform approach to medicine.

1. Ten Things to Know About MedDra Coding
When it comes to clinical research and trials, MedDRA is a critical component to creating
reporting for the results of research. There is much to learn about this coding system, which is
used to share regulatory information about a host of medical products. Here are ten things you
should know about MedDRA coding.
While initially used mostly by Europe, Japan, and the US, today the use of MedDRA coding has
spread throughout the world. Training materials for this type of coding is available in several
languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Dutch, and German.
The language of MedDRA coding is designed specifically to allow information about medical
products to be shared internationally without concern for language barriers. This allows for easy
understanding without requiring foreign language translation services. Breaking the language
barrier
in
the
field
of
medicine
is
critical
for
preventing
misunderstandings
and
misinterpretations.
Currently, MedDRA coding is used for pharmaceuticals, medicinal devices, and vaccines. Users
of this type of coding can use this handy tool for reporting and documentation of each product's
usage.
Europe and Japan mandate the use of MedDRA coding for all safety reporting on medical
products, allowing for ease of communication in documentation. While not required, it is also
widely used throughout the US.
MedDRA terms are organized into several classifications, including Preferred Terms (PT),
Lower Level Terms (LLT), High Level Group Terms (HLGT), and High Level Terms (HLT). This
system is referred to as the System Organ Class (SOC).
Terms can be occasionally added to the MedDRA dictionary, but they must be reviewed and
approved by international medical officers who make the final determinations. In some cases,
existing terminology may be changed after a decision is made by the officers.

2. The MedDRA coding system is updated twice every year, in March and in September. The
second version released every year typically only includes some updates for lower level
classifications, though this is not always the case. The initial release in March is considered to
be the fully updated version for each year.
While pharmaceutical companies and medical agencies have to pay to receive MedDRA
updates, medical regulators receive free access to all updates and information for this complex
coding system. Anyone who is interested can sign up to have access to this system.
Although the majority of the information contained in the MedDRA coding dictionary covers
medical products, there are some allowances for medical conditions. These are referred to as
Standardized MedDRA queries, or SMQs. These can be especially helpful for reporting
purposes.
MedDRA's initial implementation for medical products coding started in 1999, and it has spread
quickly throughout the world as one of the most reliable coding methods for researchers,
regulators, and medical personnel.
MedDRA coding may only be 15 years old, but its usefulness as an international medical tool
has become so vital that countries actually require its use. As the dictionary continues to grow
and the system's popularity continues to grow, it is poised to be one of the most heavily used
medical product coding systems in the world.
To learn more visit http://www.clinplus.com.