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UMLS News: 2016AA Data Available on UTS & New Authentication Option for API Users

Wilder V. UMLS News: 2016AA Data Available on UTS & New Authentication Option for API Users. NLM Tech Bull. 2016 May-Jun;(410):e4.

May 17, 2016 [posted]

You now may browse the 2016AA UMLS Release on the UTS Metathesaurus Browser. You may also query the data through the UTS SOAP API and REST API.

In addition, the UTS SNOMED CT Browser now features the March 2016 US Edition of SNOMED CT.

New Authentication Option for API Users
Developers have expressed concerns about storing usernames and passwords in their code or configuration files.

To address those concerns, NLM now offers an additional method for generating ticket granting tickets (TGTs) in the UMLS SOAP and REST APIs.

You now have the option of generating an API Key in their UMLS Terminology Services Profile.��To generate an API Key, follow these steps:


  1. Log into the UMLS Terminology Services Web site (https://uts.nlm.nih.gov).
  2. Click on My Profile.
  3. Scroll down and click Edit Profile.
  4. Check the Generate new API Key box.
  5. Scroll down and click Save Profile.
  6. See your API Key now is an alpha-numeric string with hyphens.

The API Key is now available for use to generate your TGT.��

The REST and SOAP technical documentation provides details on implementing the API Key.�

If you wish to use UMLS username and password for authentication, you may continue to do so without interruption.