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This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v1.0.0: DSTU 2 Ballot 3). The current version which supercedes this version is 5.0.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions . Page versions: R5 R4B R4 R3 R2

4.25 Resource Specimen - Content

Orders and Observations Work GroupMaturity Level: 1Compartments: Device, Patient, Practitioner

Sample for analysis.

4.25.1 Scope and Usage

Any material sample:

  • taken from a biological entity, living or dead
  • taken from a physical object or the environment

Some specimens are biological and can contain one or more components including but not limited to cellular molecules, cells, tissues, organs, body fluids, embryos, and body excretory products (source: NCI Thesaurus , modified).

The specimen resource covers substances used for diagnostic and environmental testing. The focus of the specimen resource is the process for gathering, maintaining and processing the specimen as well as where the specimen originated. This is distinct from the use of Substance which is only used when these other aspects are not relevant.

4.25.2 Background and Context

The current definition of the specimen resource contains only basic information about specimen containers. It does not address the recursive nature of containers or the tracking of the location of a container within its parent container (for instance: a tube in a tray in a rack in a freezer). The frequency with which these elements are tracked may depend on the context of use; general lab; biobanking, etc. Comments from reviewers on the appropriate scope for this resource, and the need for tracking related specimen management attributes, are welcomed.

This resource is referenced by DiagnosticOrder, DiagnosticReport, Media and Observation

4.25.3 Resource Content

Structure

NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraintsdoco
.. Specimen DomainResourceSample for analysis
... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierExternal Identifier
... status ?! Σ0..1codeavailable | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error
SpecimenStatus (Required)
... type Σ0..1CodeableConceptKind of material that forms the specimen
v2 Specimen Type (Example)
... parent 0..*Reference(Specimen)Specimen from which this specimen originated
... subject Σ1..1Reference(Patient | Group | Device | Substance)Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device
... accessionIdentifier Σ0..1IdentifierIdentifier assigned by the lab
... receivedTime Σ0..1dateTimeThe time when specimen was received for processing
... collection 0..1BackboneElementCollection details
.... collector Σ0..1Reference(Practitioner)Who collected the specimen
.... comment 0..*stringCollector comments
.... collected[x] Σ0..1Collection time
..... collectedDateTimedateTime
..... collectedPeriodPeriod
.... quantity 0..1SimpleQuantityThe quantity of specimen collected
.... method 0..1CodeableConceptTechnique used to perform collection
SpecimenCollectionMethod (Example)
.... bodySite 0..1CodeableConceptAnatomical collection site
SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example)
... treatment 0..*BackboneElementTreatment and processing step details
.... description 0..1stringTextual description of procedure
.... procedure 0..1CodeableConceptIndicates the treatment or processing step applied to the specimen
SpecimenTreatmentProcedure (Example)
.... additive 0..*Reference(Substance)Material used in the processing step
... container 0..*BackboneElementDirect container of specimen (tube/slide, etc)
.... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierId for the container
.... description 0..1stringTextual description of the container
.... type 0..1CodeableConceptKind of container directly associated with specimen
SpecimenContainer (Example)
.... capacity 0..1SimpleQuantityContainer volume or size
.... specimenQuantity 0..1SimpleQuantityQuantity of specimen within container
.... additive[x] 0..1Additive associated with container
v2 Additive/Preservative (Example)
..... additiveCodeableConceptCodeableConcept
..... additiveReferenceReference(Substance)

doco Documentation for this format

UML Diagram

Specimen (DomainResource)Id for specimenidentifier : Identifier [0..*]The availability of the specimen (this element modifies the meaning of other elements)status : code [0..1] « Codes providing the status/availability of a specimen (Strength=Required)SpecimenStatus! »The kind of material that forms the specimentype : CodeableConcept [0..1] « The type of the specimen. (Strength=Example)v2 Specimen Type?? »Reference to the parent (source) specimen which is used when the specimen was either derived from or a component of a another specimenparent : Reference [0..*] « Specimen »Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a devicesubject : Reference [1..1] « Patient|Group|Device|Substance »The identifier assigned by the lab when accessioning specimen(s). This is not necessarily the same as the specimen identifier, depending on local lab proceduresaccessionIdentifier : Identifier [0..1]Time when specimen was received for processing or testingreceivedTime : dateTime [0..1]CollectionPerson who collected the specimencollector : Reference [0..1] « Practitioner »To communicate any details or issues encountered during the specimen collection procedurecomment : string [0..*]Time when specimen was collected from subject - the physiologically relevant timecollected[x] : Type [0..1] « dateTime|Period »The quantity of specimen collected; for instance the volume of a blood sample, or the physical measurement of an anatomic pathology samplequantity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]A coded value specifying the technique that is used to perform the proceduremethod : CodeableConcept [0..1] « The technique that is used to perform the procedure (Strength=Example)SpecimenCollectionMethod?? »Anatomical location from which the specimen was collected (if subject is a patient). This is the target site. This element is not used for environmental specimensbodySite : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Codes describing anatomical locations. May include laterality (Strength=Example)SNOMED CT Body Structures?? »TreatmentTextual description of proceduredescription : string [0..1]A coded value specifying the procedure used to process the specimenprocedure : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Type indicating the technique used to process the specimen (Strength=Example)SpecimenTreatmentProcedure?? »Material used in the processing stepadditive : Reference [0..*] « Substance »ContainerId for container. There may be multiple; a manufacturer's bar code, lab assigned identifier, etc. The container ID may differ from the specimen id in some circumstancesidentifier : Identifier [0..*]Textual description of the containerdescription : string [0..1]The type of container associated with the specimen (e.g. slide, aliquot, etc)type : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Type of specimen container (Strength=Example)SpecimenContainer?? »The capacity (volume or other measure) the container may containcapacity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]The quantity of specimen in the container; may be volume, dimensions, or other appropriate measurements, depending on the specimen typespecimenQuantity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]Introduced substance to preserve, maintain or enhance the specimen. examples: Formalin, Citrate, EDTAadditive[x] : Type [0..1] « CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance); Substance added to specimen container (Strength=Example)v2 Additive/Preservative?? »Details concerning the specimen collectioncollection[0..1]Details concerning treatment and processing steps for the specimentreatment[0..*]The container holding the specimen. The recursive nature of containers; i.e. blood in tube in tray in rack is not addressed herecontainer[0..*]

XML Template

<Specimen xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"> doco
 <!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language -->
 <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension -->
 <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier External Identifier --></identifier>
 <status value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 available | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error -->
 <type><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Kind of material that forms the specimen --></type>
 <parent><!-- 0..* Reference(Specimen) Specimen from which this specimen originated --></parent>
 <subject><!-- 1..1 Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Substance) Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device --></subject>
 <accessionIdentifier><!-- 0..1 Identifier Identifier assigned by the lab --></accessionIdentifier>
 <receivedTime value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 The time when specimen was received for processing -->
 <collection>  <!-- 0..1 Collection details -->
  <collector><!-- 0..1 Reference(Practitioner) Who collected the specimen --></collector>
  <comment value="[string]"/><!-- 0..* Collector comments -->
  <collected[x]><!-- 0..1 dateTime|Period Collection time --></collected[x]>
  <quantity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) The quantity of specimen collected --></quantity>
  <method><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Technique used to perform collection --></method>
  <bodySite><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Anatomical collection site --></bodySite>
 </collection>
 <treatment>  <!-- 0..* Treatment and processing step details -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Textual description of procedure -->
  <procedure><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Indicates the treatment or processing step  applied to the specimen --></procedure>
  <additive><!-- 0..* Reference(Substance) Material used in the processing step --></additive>
 </treatment>
 <container>  <!-- 0..* Direct container of specimen (tube/slide, etc) -->
  <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Id for the container --></identifier>
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Textual description of the container -->
  <type><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Kind of container directly associated with specimen --></type>
  <capacity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) Container volume or size --></capacity>
  <specimenQuantity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) Quantity of specimen within container --></specimenQuantity>
  <additive[x]><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance) Additive associated with container --></additive[x]>
 </container>
</Specimen>

JSON Template

{doco
  "resourceType" : "Specimen",
  // from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
  // from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
  "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // External Identifier
  "status" : "<code>", // available | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error
  "type" : { CodeableConcept }, // Kind of material that forms the specimen
  "parent" : [{ Reference(Specimen) }], // Specimen from which this specimen originated
  "subject" : { Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Substance) }, // R!  Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device
  "accessionIdentifier" : { Identifier }, // Identifier assigned by the lab
  "receivedTime" : "<dateTime>", // The time when specimen was received for processing
  "collection" : { // Collection details
    "collector" : { Reference(Practitioner) }, // Who collected the specimen
    "comment" : ["<string>"], // Collector comments
    // collected[x]: Collection time. One of these 2:
    "collectedDateTime" : "<dateTime>",
    "collectedPeriod" : { Period },
    "quantity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // The quantity of specimen collected
    "method" : { CodeableConcept }, // Technique used to perform collection
    "bodySite" : { CodeableConcept } // Anatomical collection site
  },
  "treatment" : [{ // Treatment and processing step details
    "description" : "<string>", // Textual description of procedure
    "procedure" : { CodeableConcept }, // Indicates the treatment or processing step  applied to the specimen
    "additive" : [{ Reference(Substance) }] // Material used in the processing step
  }],
  "container" : [{ // Direct container of specimen (tube/slide, etc)
    "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Id for the container
    "description" : "<string>", // Textual description of the container
    "type" : { CodeableConcept }, // Kind of container directly associated with specimen
    "capacity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // Container volume or size
    "specimenQuantity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // Quantity of specimen within container
    // additive[x]: Additive associated with container. One of these 2:
    "additiveCodeableConcept" : { CodeableConcept }
    "additiveReference" : { Reference(Substance) }
  }]
}

Structure

NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraintsdoco
.. Specimen DomainResourceSample for analysis
... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierExternal Identifier
... status ?! Σ0..1codeavailable | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error
SpecimenStatus (Required)
... type Σ0..1CodeableConceptKind of material that forms the specimen
v2 Specimen Type (Example)
... parent 0..*Reference(Specimen)Specimen from which this specimen originated
... subject Σ1..1Reference(Patient | Group | Device | Substance)Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device
... accessionIdentifier Σ0..1IdentifierIdentifier assigned by the lab
... receivedTime Σ0..1dateTimeThe time when specimen was received for processing
... collection 0..1BackboneElementCollection details
.... collector Σ0..1Reference(Practitioner)Who collected the specimen
.... comment 0..*stringCollector comments
.... collected[x] Σ0..1Collection time
..... collectedDateTimedateTime
..... collectedPeriodPeriod
.... quantity 0..1SimpleQuantityThe quantity of specimen collected
.... method 0..1CodeableConceptTechnique used to perform collection
SpecimenCollectionMethod (Example)
.... bodySite 0..1CodeableConceptAnatomical collection site
SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example)
... treatment 0..*BackboneElementTreatment and processing step details
.... description 0..1stringTextual description of procedure
.... procedure 0..1CodeableConceptIndicates the treatment or processing step applied to the specimen
SpecimenTreatmentProcedure (Example)
.... additive 0..*Reference(Substance)Material used in the processing step
... container 0..*BackboneElementDirect container of specimen (tube/slide, etc)
.... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierId for the container
.... description 0..1stringTextual description of the container
.... type 0..1CodeableConceptKind of container directly associated with specimen
SpecimenContainer (Example)
.... capacity 0..1SimpleQuantityContainer volume or size
.... specimenQuantity 0..1SimpleQuantityQuantity of specimen within container
.... additive[x] 0..1Additive associated with container
v2 Additive/Preservative (Example)
..... additiveCodeableConceptCodeableConcept
..... additiveReferenceReference(Substance)

doco Documentation for this format

UML Diagram

Specimen (DomainResource)Id for specimenidentifier : Identifier [0..*]The availability of the specimen (this element modifies the meaning of other elements)status : code [0..1] « Codes providing the status/availability of a specimen (Strength=Required)SpecimenStatus! »The kind of material that forms the specimentype : CodeableConcept [0..1] « The type of the specimen. (Strength=Example)v2 Specimen Type?? »Reference to the parent (source) specimen which is used when the specimen was either derived from or a component of a another specimenparent : Reference [0..*] « Specimen »Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a devicesubject : Reference [1..1] « Patient|Group|Device|Substance »The identifier assigned by the lab when accessioning specimen(s). This is not necessarily the same as the specimen identifier, depending on local lab proceduresaccessionIdentifier : Identifier [0..1]Time when specimen was received for processing or testingreceivedTime : dateTime [0..1]CollectionPerson who collected the specimencollector : Reference [0..1] « Practitioner »To communicate any details or issues encountered during the specimen collection procedurecomment : string [0..*]Time when specimen was collected from subject - the physiologically relevant timecollected[x] : Type [0..1] « dateTime|Period »The quantity of specimen collected; for instance the volume of a blood sample, or the physical measurement of an anatomic pathology samplequantity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]A coded value specifying the technique that is used to perform the proceduremethod : CodeableConcept [0..1] « The technique that is used to perform the procedure (Strength=Example)SpecimenCollectionMethod?? »Anatomical location from which the specimen was collected (if subject is a patient). This is the target site. This element is not used for environmental specimensbodySite : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Codes describing anatomical locations. May include laterality (Strength=Example)SNOMED CT Body Structures?? »TreatmentTextual description of proceduredescription : string [0..1]A coded value specifying the procedure used to process the specimenprocedure : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Type indicating the technique used to process the specimen (Strength=Example)SpecimenTreatmentProcedure?? »Material used in the processing stepadditive : Reference [0..*] « Substance »ContainerId for container. There may be multiple; a manufacturer's bar code, lab assigned identifier, etc. The container ID may differ from the specimen id in some circumstancesidentifier : Identifier [0..*]Textual description of the containerdescription : string [0..1]The type of container associated with the specimen (e.g. slide, aliquot, etc)type : CodeableConcept [0..1] « Type of specimen container (Strength=Example)SpecimenContainer?? »The capacity (volume or other measure) the container may containcapacity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]The quantity of specimen in the container; may be volume, dimensions, or other appropriate measurements, depending on the specimen typespecimenQuantity : Quantity(SimpleQuantity) [0..1]Introduced substance to preserve, maintain or enhance the specimen. examples: Formalin, Citrate, EDTAadditive[x] : Type [0..1] « CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance); Substance added to specimen container (Strength=Example)v2 Additive/Preservative?? »Details concerning the specimen collectioncollection[0..1]Details concerning treatment and processing steps for the specimentreatment[0..*]The container holding the specimen. The recursive nature of containers; i.e. blood in tube in tray in rack is not addressed herecontainer[0..*]

XML Template

<Specimen xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"> doco
 <!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language -->
 <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension -->
 <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier External Identifier --></identifier>
 <status value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 available | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error -->
 <type><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Kind of material that forms the specimen --></type>
 <parent><!-- 0..* Reference(Specimen) Specimen from which this specimen originated --></parent>
 <subject><!-- 1..1 Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Substance) Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device --></subject>
 <accessionIdentifier><!-- 0..1 Identifier Identifier assigned by the lab --></accessionIdentifier>
 <receivedTime value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 The time when specimen was received for processing -->
 <collection>  <!-- 0..1 Collection details -->
  <collector><!-- 0..1 Reference(Practitioner) Who collected the specimen --></collector>
  <comment value="[string]"/><!-- 0..* Collector comments -->
  <collected[x]><!-- 0..1 dateTime|Period Collection time --></collected[x]>
  <quantity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) The quantity of specimen collected --></quantity>
  <method><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Technique used to perform collection --></method>
  <bodySite><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Anatomical collection site --></bodySite>
 </collection>
 <treatment>  <!-- 0..* Treatment and processing step details -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Textual description of procedure -->
  <procedure><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Indicates the treatment or processing step  applied to the specimen --></procedure>
  <additive><!-- 0..* Reference(Substance) Material used in the processing step --></additive>
 </treatment>
 <container>  <!-- 0..* Direct container of specimen (tube/slide, etc) -->
  <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Id for the container --></identifier>
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Textual description of the container -->
  <type><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Kind of container directly associated with specimen --></type>
  <capacity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) Container volume or size --></capacity>
  <specimenQuantity><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) Quantity of specimen within container --></specimenQuantity>
  <additive[x]><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance) Additive associated with container --></additive[x]>
 </container>
</Specimen>

JSON Template

{doco
  "resourceType" : "Specimen",
  // from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
  // from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
  "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // External Identifier
  "status" : "<code>", // available | unavailable | unsatisfactory | entered-in-error
  "type" : { CodeableConcept }, // Kind of material that forms the specimen
  "parent" : [{ Reference(Specimen) }], // Specimen from which this specimen originated
  "subject" : { Reference(Patient|Group|Device|Substance) }, // R!  Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device
  "accessionIdentifier" : { Identifier }, // Identifier assigned by the lab
  "receivedTime" : "<dateTime>", // The time when specimen was received for processing
  "collection" : { // Collection details
    "collector" : { Reference(Practitioner) }, // Who collected the specimen
    "comment" : ["<string>"], // Collector comments
    // collected[x]: Collection time. One of these 2:
    "collectedDateTime" : "<dateTime>",
    "collectedPeriod" : { Period },
    "quantity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // The quantity of specimen collected
    "method" : { CodeableConcept }, // Technique used to perform collection
    "bodySite" : { CodeableConcept } // Anatomical collection site
  },
  "treatment" : [{ // Treatment and processing step details
    "description" : "<string>", // Textual description of procedure
    "procedure" : { CodeableConcept }, // Indicates the treatment or processing step  applied to the specimen
    "additive" : [{ Reference(Substance) }] // Material used in the processing step
  }],
  "container" : [{ // Direct container of specimen (tube/slide, etc)
    "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Id for the container
    "description" : "<string>", // Textual description of the container
    "type" : { CodeableConcept }, // Kind of container directly associated with specimen
    "capacity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // Container volume or size
    "specimenQuantity" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // Quantity of specimen within container
    // additive[x]: Additive associated with container. One of these 2:
    "additiveCodeableConcept" : { CodeableConcept }
    "additiveReference" : { Reference(Substance) }
  }]
}

 

Alternate definitions: Schema/Schematron, Resource Profile (XML, JSON), Questionnaire

4.25.3.1 Terminology Bindings

PathDefinitionTypeReference
Specimen.status Codes providing the status/availability of a specimenRequiredSpecimenStatus
Specimen.type The type of the specimen.Examplev2 Specimen Type
Specimen.collection.method The technique that is used to perform the procedureExampleSpecimenCollectionMethod
Specimen.collection.bodySite Codes describing anatomical locations. May include lateralityExampleSNOMED CT Body Structures
Specimen.treatment.procedure Type indicating the technique used to process the specimenExampleSpecimenTreatmentProcedure
Specimen.container.type Type of specimen containerExampleSpecimenContainer
Specimen.container.additive[x] Substance added to specimen containerExamplev2 Additive/Preservative

4.25.4 Search Parameters

Search parameters for this resource. The common parameters also apply. See Searching for more information about searching in REST, messaging, and services.

NameTypeDescriptionPaths
accessiontokenThe accession number associated with the specimenSpecimen.accessionIdentifier
bodysitetokenThe code for the body site from where the specimen originatedSpecimen.collection.bodySite
collecteddateThe date the specimen was collectedSpecimen.collection.collected[x]
collectorreferenceWho collected the specimenSpecimen.collection.collector
(Practitioner)
containertokenThe kind of specimen containerSpecimen.container.type
container-idtokenThe unique identifier associated with the specimen containerSpecimen.container.identifier
identifiertokenThe unique identifier associated with the specimenSpecimen.identifier
parentreferenceThe parent of the specimenSpecimen.parent
(Specimen)
patientreferenceThe patient the specimen comes fromSpecimen.subject
(Patient)
subjectreferenceThe subject of the specimenSpecimen.subject
(Device, Patient, Substance, Group)
typetokenThe specimen typeSpecimen.type