This is the Continuous Integration Build of FHIR (will be incorrect/inconsistent at times).
See the Directory of published versions
Orders and Observations ![]() | 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 |
Summary | false |
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 | hl7VS-specimenType ![]() |
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, a biologically-derived product, or a device. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Patient | Group | Device | BiologicallyDerivedProduct | Substance | Location) |
Patterns | Reference(Patient,Group,Device,BiologicallyDerivedProduct,Substance,Location): No common pattern |
Requirements | Must know the subject context. |
Summary | true |
Specimen.receivedTime | |
Element Id | Specimen.receivedTime |
Definition | Time when specimen is received by the testing laboratory 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) |
Summary | false |
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) |
Summary | false |
Comments | The request may be explicit or implied such with a ServiceRequest that requires a blood draw. |
Specimen.feature | |
Element Id | Specimen.feature |
Definition | A physical feature or landmark on a specimen, highlighted for context by the collector of the specimen (e.g. surgeon), that identifies the type of feature as well as its meaning (e.g. the red ink indicating the resection margin of the right lobe of the excised prostate tissue or wire loop at radiologically suspected tumor location). |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Summary | false |
Specimen.feature.type | |
Element Id | Specimen.feature.type |
Definition | The landmark or feature being highlighted. |
Cardinality | 1..1 |
Terminology Binding | SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | false |
Specimen.feature.description | |
Element Id | Specimen.feature.description |
Definition | Description of the feature of the specimen. |
Cardinality | 1..1 |
Type | string |
Summary | false |
Specimen.collection | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection |
Definition | Details concerning the specimen collection. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Summary | false |
Specimen.collection.collector | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.collector |
Definition | Person who collected the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Practitioner | PractitionerRole | Patient | RelatedPerson) |
Patterns | Reference(Practitioner,PractitionerRole,Patient,RelatedPerson): 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 |
Summary | false |
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 |
Summary | false |
Specimen.collection.device | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.device |
Definition | A coded value specifying the technique that is used to perform the procedure. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenCollectionDevice: |
Type | CodeableReference(Device) |
Summary | false |
Specimen.collection.procedure | |
Element Id | Specimen.collection.procedure |
Definition | The procedure event during which the specimen was collected (e.g. the surgery leading to the collection of a pathology sample). |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Procedure) |
Summary | false |
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 | CodeableReference(BodyStructure) |
Summary | false |
Comments | Reasons for using BodyStructure reference include: 1.) Need to identify a specific site instance (e.g. a specific mole), 2.) a single pre-coordinated coded concept for the body site does not exist, 3.) a desire to represent bodySite using multiple attributes (e.g. modifiers). |
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 | hl7VS-relevantClincialInformation ![]() |
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..* |
Summary | false |
Specimen.processing.description | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.description |
Definition | Textual description of procedure. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Summary | false |
Specimen.processing.method | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.method |
Definition | A coded value specifying the method used to process the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SpecimenProcessingMethod (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | false |
Specimen.processing.additive | |
Element Id | Specimen.processing.additive |
Definition | Material used in the processing step. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Substance) |
Summary | false |
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] |
Summary | false |
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..* |
Summary | false |
Specimen.container.device | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.device |
Definition | The device resource for the the container holding the specimen. If the container is in a holder then the referenced device will point to a parent device. |
Cardinality | 1..1 |
Type | Reference(Device) |
Summary | false |
Specimen.container.location | |
Element Id | Specimen.container.location |
Definition | The location of the container holding the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Location) |
Summary | false |
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 |
Summary | false |
Specimen.condition | |
Element Id | Specimen.condition |
Definition | A mode or state of being that describes the nature of the specimen. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | hl7VS-specimenCondition ![]() |
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 |
Summary | false |