This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v4.4.0: R5 Preview #2). 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
Orders and Observations Work Group | Maturity Level: 2 | Trial Use | Security Category: Patient | Compartments: Device, Patient, Practitioner |
Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the Specimen resource.
Specimen | |
Element Id | Specimen |
Definition | A sample to be used for analysis. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | DomainResource |
Specimen.identifier | |
Element Id | Specimen.identifier |
Definition | Id for specimen. |
Note | This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Specimen.accessionIdentifier | |
Element Id | Specimen.accessionIdentifier |
Definition | The identifier assigned by the lab when accessioning specimen(s). This is not necessarily the same as the specimen identifier, depending on local lab procedures. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Specimen.status | |
Element Id | Specimen.status |
Definition | The availability of the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenStatus (Required) |
Type | code |
Is Modifier | true (Reason: This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid) |
Summary | true |
Comments | This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains codes that mark the resource as not currently valid. |
Specimen.type | |
Element Id | Specimen.type |
Definition | The kind of material that forms the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | v2 Specimen Type (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | true |
Comments | The type can change the way that a specimen is handled and drives what kind of analyses can properly be performed on the specimen. It is frequently used in diagnostic work flow decision making systems. |
Specimen.subject | |
Element Id | Specimen.subject |
Definition | Where the specimen came from. This may be from patient(s), from a location (e.g., the source of an environmental sample), or a sampling of a substance or a device. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Patient | Group | Device | Substance | Location) |
Patterns | Reference(Patient,Group,Device,Substance,Location): No common pattern |
Requirements | Must know the subject context. |
Summary | true |
Specimen.receivedTime | |
Element Id | Specimen.receivedTime |
Definition | Time when specimen was received for processing or testing. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime |
Summary | true |
Specimen.parent | |
Element Id | Specimen.parent |
Definition | Reference to the parent (source) specimen which is used when the specimen was either derived from or a component of another specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Specimen) |
Comments | The parent specimen could be the source from which the current specimen is derived by some processing step (e.g. an aliquot or isolate or extracted nucleic acids from clinical samples) or one of many specimens that were combined to create a pooled sample. |
Specimen.request | |
Element Id | Specimen.request |
Definition | Details concerning a service request that required a specimen to be collected. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Reference(ServiceRequest) |
Comments | The request may be explicit or implied such with a ServiceRequest that requires a blood draw. |
Specimen.collection | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection |
Definition | Details concerning the specimen collection. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Specimen.collection.collector | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.collector |
Definition | Person who collected the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Practitioner | PractitionerRole) |
Patterns | Reference(Practitioner,PractitionerRole): Common patterns = Participant |
Summary | true |
Specimen.collection.collected[x] | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.collected[x] |
Definition | Time when specimen was collected from subject - the physiologically relevant time. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime|Period |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Summary | true |
Specimen.collection.duration | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.duration |
Definition | The span of time over which the collection of a specimen occurred. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Duration |
Summary | true |
Specimen.collection.quantity | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.quantity |
Definition | The quantity of specimen collected; for instance the volume of a blood sample, or the physical measurement of an anatomic pathology sample. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.collection.method | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.method |
Definition | A coded value specifying the technique that is used to perform the procedure. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | FHIR Specimen Collection Method (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Specimen.collection.bodySite | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.bodySite |
Definition | 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 specimens. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Comments | If the use case requires BodySite to be handled as a separate resource instead of an inline coded element (e.g. to identify and track separately) then use the standard extension bodySite. |
Specimen.collection.fastingStatus[x] | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.fastingStatus[x] |
Definition | Abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time prior to sample collection. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | v2 Relevant Clincial Information (Extensible) |
Type | CodeableConcept|Duration |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Requirements | Many diagnostic tests require fasting to facilitate accurate interpretation. |
Summary | true |
Comments | Representing fasting status using this element is preferred to representing it with an observation using a 'pre-coordinated code' such as LOINC 2005-7 (Calcium [Moles/time] in 2 hour Urine --12 hours fasting), or using a component observation |
Specimen.processing | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing |
Definition | Details concerning processing and processing steps for the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Specimen.processing.description | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.description |
Definition | Textual description of procedure. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Specimen.processing.procedure | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.procedure |
Definition | A coded value specifying the procedure used to process the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | Specimen processing procedure (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Specimen.processing.additive | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.additive |
Definition | Material used in the processing step. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Substance) |
Specimen.processing.time[x] | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.time[x] |
Definition | A record of the time or period when the specimen processing occurred. For example the time of sample fixation or the period of time the sample was in formalin. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime|Period |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Specimen.container | |
Element Id | Specimen.container |
Definition | The container holding the specimen. The recursive nature of containers; i.e. blood in tube in tray in rack is not addressed here. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Specimen.container.identifier | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.identifier |
Definition | Id 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 circumstances. |
Note | This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Specimen.container.description | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.description |
Definition | Textual description of the container. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Specimen.container.type | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.type |
Definition | The type of container associated with the specimen (e.g. slide, aliquot, etc.). |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | Specimen container (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Specimen.container.capacity | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.capacity |
Definition | The capacity (volume or other measure) the container may contain. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.container.specimenQuantity | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.specimenQuantity |
Definition | The quantity of specimen in the container; may be volume, dimensions, or other appropriate measurements, depending on the specimen type. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.container.additive[x] | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.additive[x] |
Definition | Introduced substance to preserve, maintain or enhance the specimen. Examples: Formalin, Citrate, EDTA. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | v2 Additive (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance) |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Specimen.condition | |
Element Id | Specimen.condition |
Definition | A mode or state of being that describes the nature of the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | v2 Specimen Condition (Extensible) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Requirements | The specimen condition can be used to assess its quality or appropriateness for a specific test. |
Summary | true |
Comments | Specimen condition is an observation made about the specimen. It's a point-in-time assessment. It can be used to assess its quality or appropriateness for a specific test. |
Specimen.note | |
Element Id | Specimen.note |
Definition | To communicate any details or issues about the specimen or during the specimen collection. (for example: broken vial, sent with patient, frozen). |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Annotation |