Glossary · FHIR resources

Specimen

FHIR Specimen resource

Updated

Specimen is the FHIR resource for the sample a laboratory tests: its type (blood, urine, tissue), collection time and method, container and condition on arrival.

Observations and DiagnosticReports reference it, and it corresponds to the SPM segment in HL7 v2 OML and ORU messages.

Official source

FHIR R4 Specimen

See also

ObservationDiagnosticReportLISOML

Explained in depth

Integration

How to integrate a laboratory information system with an EHR: HL7 v2, FHIR and the pitfalls, step by step

A laboratory interface is the most common hospital integration and the easiest to get wrong. The order and result flows in HL7 v2 (ORM/OML, ORR, ORU), the fields for status, flags, units and ranges, microbiology and text results, the FHIR alternative, code mapping, testing, and the failures to design against.

26 October 2026

Definitions written by Anpheros from the official sources linked on each page. General information about standards and regulation, not legal or medical advice. All terms →

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