NML lab sample ID 2026-03-06T11:22:46Z PCDS: 24-001237 NML lab sample number field https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/programs/national-microbiology-laboratory.html pending final vetting These metadata fields are defined specifically to describe Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) data fields. They are organizational constructs intended to support a particular template and underlying database and should not be reused to model metadata outside the intended context. Where possible, more general, template‑independent terms should be used instead. A data field which describes a string identifier assigned to a sample or specimen by a laboratory group within the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML). NML lab number NML lab number slot National Microbiology Laboratory lab number National Microbiology Laboratory lab number field National Microbiology Laboratory lab number slot PCDS: A non-unique string identifier assigned to a sample or specimen by a laboratory group within the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML). PCDS: Enter the NML lab number exactly as generated and assigned by the NML Branch of the Public Health Agency of Canada. This identifier is used for internal tracking and linkage of specimens within NML laboratory workflows. Do not alter the formatting or substitute identifiers from other systems or organizations. PCDS:nml_lab number PHAC NML lab number Public Health Agency of Canada National Microbiology Laboratory lab number NML data field centrally registered identifier symbol