A PMID (PubMed identifier or PubMed unique identifier[1]) is a unique number assigned to each PubMed citation of life sciences and biomedical scientific journal articles. The related Pubmed Central archive may additionally assign a separate number, a PMCID (PubMed Central identifier), normally written with a PMC prefix.
As of 2005, there are roughly between 15 and 16 million PMID numbers in use, starting from 1,[2] and about 1 million new numbers are added each year. 'Unique identifier' (UID) is the search field tag used in the PubMed search query.
The assignment of a PMID or PMCID to a publication tells the reader nothing about the type or quality of the content. PMIDs are assigned to letters to the editor, editorial opinions, op-ed columns, and any other piece that the editor chooses to include in the journal, as well as peer-reviewed papers. The existence of the identification number is also not proof that the papers have not been retracted for fraud, incompetence, or misconduct. The announcement about any corrections to original papers may be assigned a PMID.
References
- ^ "Search Field Descriptions and Tags". National Center for Biotechnology Information. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=helppubmed.section.pubmedhelp.Search_Field_Descrip. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ Makar AB, McMartin KE, Palese M, Tephly TR (June 1975). "Formate assay in body fluids: application in methanol poisoning". Biochemical Medicine 13 (2): 117–26. doi:10.1016/0006-2944(75)90147-7. PMID 1.