Unique identifiers assigned to this specimen, including barcode labels, specimen numbers, and tracking codes used throughout the collection, transport, and analysis process

Example: [{"system":"http://lab.example.org/specimens","value":"SPEC-2024-0012345"}]

Laboratory accession number assigned when the specimen is received and entered into the laboratory information system, serving as the primary tracking identifier for the specimen throughout its lifecycle

Current availability status of the specimen indicating whether it is available for testing, has been used/consumed, is unsuitable for analysis, or was recorded in error

Values: available, unavailable, unsatisfactory, entered-in-error

Coded classification of the specimen material such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, tissue biopsy, cerebrospinal fluid, or other biological sample types following standard specimen type terminologies

Example: {"system":"http://snomed.info/sct","code":"122555007","display":"Venous blood specimen"}

Reference to the patient from whom this specimen was collected, establishing the critical link between the sample and the individual for proper identification and result reporting

Example: {"reference":"Patient/patient-12345","display":"Jane Smith"}

Date and time when the specimen was collected from the patient, critical for determining specimen stability, interpreting time-dependent test results, and calculating turnaround times

Reference to the healthcare practitioner who performed the specimen collection, important for accountability, quality assurance, and addressing collection-related questions

Example: {"reference":"Practitioner/practitioner-789","display":"Sarah Johnson, RN"}

Coded technique or procedure used to collect the specimen such as venipuncture, capillary puncture, clean catch void, needle biopsy, or swab, which may impact specimen quality and result interpretation

Example: {"system":"http://snomed.info/sct","code":"278450005","display":"Venipuncture"}

Anatomical location on the patient's body from which the specimen was collected, particularly important for specimens where collection site affects interpretation such as biopsies, wound cultures, or site-specific samples

Example: {"reference":"HealthReferenceBodySite/left-antecubital-fossa","display":"Left antecubital fossa"}

Numerical amount of specimen collected, indicating the volume or mass available for testing and determining whether sufficient material exists for all requested analyses

Unit of measurement for the specimen quantity such as milliliters, grams, or other standard units appropriate to the specimen type and laboratory practice

Type of container or tube in which the specimen is stored, such as red top tube, lavender top tube with EDTA, sterile urine cup, or tissue cassette, which determines appropriate handling and testing

Date and time when the specimen was received at the laboratory, used to calculate transport time, assess specimen stability, and track pre-analytical workflow metrics

Quality assessment of the specimen upon receipt indicating whether it is adequate for testing or has issues such as hemolysis, lipemia, clotting, insufficient quantity, or contamination that may affect results

Values: adequate, hemolyzed, lipemic, clotted, insufficient, contaminated

Detailed notes about the specimen condition including severity of hemolysis, degree of lipemia, presence of clots, or other quality issues observed during visual inspection or processing

Special instructions or notes about specimen processing requirements such as centrifugation speed, storage temperature, time-sensitive handling, or specific preparation needed before analysis

Reference to the original or parent specimen from which this specimen was derived through processing such as serum separated from whole blood, aliquots created for different tests, or tissue sections cut from a biopsy

Example: {"reference":"Specimen/specimen-parent-001","display":"Whole blood specimen"}

Computed indicator that is true when the specimen condition is adequate for testing, providing a quick quality check flag for laboratory workflows and result validation processes

Calculated number of hours elapsed between specimen collection and laboratory receipt, used to monitor pre-analytical turnaround time metrics and identify specimens that may have exceeded stability limits