This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v3.2.0: R4 Ballot 1). 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 | Compartments: Device, Patient, Practitioner |
Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the Specimen resource.
Specimen | |
Definition | A sample to be used for analysis. |
Control | 1..1 |
Specimen.identifier | |
Definition | Id for specimen. |
Note | This is a business identifer, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
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. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Specimen.status | |
Definition | The availability of the specimen. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenStatus (Required) |
Type | code |
Is Modifier | true |
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 | |
Definition | The kind of material that forms the specimen. |
Control | 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 | |
Definition | Where the specimen came from. This may be from the patient(s) or from the environment or a device. |
Control | 1..1 |
Type | Reference(Patient | Group | Device | Substance) |
Requirements | Must know the subject context. |
Summary | true |
Specimen.receivedTime | |
Definition | Time when specimen was received for processing or testing. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime |
Summary | true |
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. |
Control | 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 | |
Definition | Details concerning a service request that required a specimen to be collected. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(ServiceRequest) |
Comments | The request may be explicit or implied such with a ServiceRequest that requires a blood draw. |
Specimen.collection | |
Definition | Details concerning the specimen collection. |
Control | 0..1 |
Specimen.collection.collector | |
Definition | Person who collected the specimen. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Practitioner) |
Summary | true |
Specimen.collection.collected[x] | |
Definition | Time when specimen was collected from subject - the physiologically relevant time. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime|Period |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Summary | true |
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. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.collection.method | |
Definition | A coded value specifying the technique that is used to perform the procedure. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | FHIR Specimen Collection Method (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
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. |
Control | 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 body-structure. |
Specimen.processing | |
Definition | Details concerning processing and processing steps for the specimen. |
Control | 0..* |
Specimen.processing.description | |
Definition | Textual description of procedure. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Specimen.processing.procedure | |
Definition | A coded value specifying the procedure used to process the specimen. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenProcessingProcedure (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Specimen.processing.additive | |
Definition | Material used in the processing step. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Substance) |
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. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime|Period |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
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. |
Control | 0..* |
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 identifer, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Specimen.container.description | |
Definition | Textual description of the container. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Specimen.container.type | |
Definition | The type of container associated with the specimen (e.g. slide, aliquot, etc.). |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenContainer (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Specimen.container.capacity | |
Definition | The capacity (volume or other measure) the container may contain. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.container.specimenQuantity | |
Definition | The quantity of specimen in the container; may be volume, dimensions, or other appropriate measurements, depending on the specimen type. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | SimpleQuantity |
Specimen.container.additive[x] | |
Definition | Introduced substance to preserve, maintain or enhance the specimen. Examples: Formalin, Citrate, EDTA. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | v2 Additive/Preservative (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept|Reference(Substance) |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
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). |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Annotation |