Alpha-ID-SE
Alpha-ID - an identification number for diagnoses
The Alpha-ID is a sequential and stable identification number, which is allocated to each entry in the alphabetical index. It permits the encoding of medical and natural language diagnostic terms. Published in 2005 by DIMDI as a prototype, the file is based on the Alphabetical Index of ICD-10-GM: it provides a unique identification for each entry and thus assumes the function of a non-classifying diagnostic code.
In the context of the project "Rare diseases coding", DIMDI published for the first time an extended file of the Alpha-ID (starting with version 2015) which contains the Orpha number in addition to the ICD-10-GM code for rare diseases.
The Alpha-ID-SE (rare diseases) allows a simplified, uniform and standardised coding of rare diseases according to ICD-10-GM on one hand, and to the Orpha number (ORPHAcode) on the other hand. This improves documentation and leads to an adequate representation of rare diseases in the German healthcare sector. Furthermore, the Orpha numbers allow connections to reference systems for rare diseases throughout Europe. The Alpha-ID-SE is published annually in supplemented and updated version by BfArM. The currently valid version is effective from the beginning until the end of a calendar year. With the enactment of the “Digitale–Versorgung–und–Pflege–Modernisierungs–Gesetz (DVPMG)“ the ground was layed to enable the unique coding of rare diseases in the hospital sector of the German health system.
Differentiated diagnostic codes for medical documentation
Classification always entails a loss of detailed information: for example, the ICD-10 classification combines all synonymous terms for a particular disease as well as similar diseases within the same class under a single code. ICD codes are thus not sufficiently differentiated to be used in documentation for therapeutic purposes. By contrast, Alpha-ID-SE allows all synonymous terms and each individual name for a disorder from the alphabetical index as a separate identifier. Each entry has its own Alpha-ID code - an individual, utterly unique, non-classifying identification number.
Example: There are 29 entries in the Alphabetical Index for the ICD-10-GM code "L30.8 Sonstige näher bezeichnete Dermatitis" (Other specified dermatitis), all encoded as L30.8. In Alpha-ID-SE, each of these entries is given its own Alpha-ID code as in the following four entries:
| Alpha-ID-Code | ICD-10-GM-Code | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| I6158 | L30.8 | Ichthyosiformes Ekzem |
| I6159 | L30.8 | Nässendes Ekzem |
| I6154 | L30.8 | Nässender Nabel |
| I6142 | L30.8 | Trockenes Ekzem |
The Alpha-ID code represents the complete information of the respective entry, but is easier to exchange in electronic communication than non-standardised uncoded text. In that way, the Alpha-ID-SE file provides diagnostic codes for more than 89,000 differentiated diagnostic terms, each of which is also assigned the appropriate ICD-10-GM code.
Alpha-ID-SE versus Alphabetical Index
In contrast to the Alphabetical Index of ICD-10-GM, the Alpha-ID-SE is cumulative: Entries deleted as part of ICD-10-GM database maintenance are retained in Alpha-ID-SE with the appropriate designation. The current version of Alpha-ID-SE can thus also be used to decode identification numbers that refer to previous entries.
In contrast with the ICD-10-GM codes, Alpha-ID identification numbers (Alpha-ID codes) are stable. In Alpha-ID-SE, each entry has two codes: the Alpha-ID code and the associated ICD-10-GM code. New insights in medicine or restructuring of the ICD-10-GM database can result in changes to the ICD code for a particular entry. By contrast, an Alpha-ID, once assigned, remains linked to its entry unchanged forever.
Alphabetical Index of ICD-10-GM
Alpha-ID-SE proposal procedure
The Alpha-ID-SE is subject to ongoing development. At present, it is annually adapted to changes in the Alphabetical Index resulting from the proposal procedure for ICD-10-GM. In addition, you have the opportunity continuously to improve Alpha-ID-SE with suggestions of your own. Please submit suggestions for Alpha-ID-SE during the proposal procedure for ICD-10-GM (always from December to the end of February) in an informal e-mail to: Code systems
Proposal Procedure of ICD-10-GM
Alpha-ID-SE - Scope of application "Rare Diseases"
DIMDI published, in the context of the project "Rare diseases coding", an extended file of the Alpha-ID (starting with version 2015) which contains the Orpha number in addition to the ICD-10-GM code for rare diseases.
The Alpha-ID-SE (rare diseases) allows a simplified, uniform and standardised coding of rare diseases according to ICD-10-GM on one hand, and to the Orpha number on the other hand. This improves documentation and leads to an adequate representation of rare diseases in the German healthcare sector. Furthermore, the Orpha numbers allow connections to reference systems for rare diseases throughout Europe. The Alpha-ID-SE is published annually in supplemented and updated version by BfArM. Version 2025 contains Orpha numbers for 18.916 diagnostic terms representing 7.233 entities of rare diseases.
Projects for the Coding of Rare Diseases
Through participation in the EU projects "RD-Action" (Rare Disease Action, completed on 31.07.2018), "RD-Code" (Rare Disease Code, completed on 31.12.2021) and OD4RD (Orphadata for Rare Diseases), DIMDI and as its legal successor now BfArM is also working at international level to improve the coding and thus the visibility of rare diseases in health systems.
Further information
National project "Kodierung von Seltenen Erkrankungen" (Rare diseases coding)
International EU Project "RD-Action" (Rare Disease Action)
International EU Project "RD-Code" (Rare Disease Code)