---
title: "specimen"
description: "A physical sample collected from, or related to, an individual for the purpose of investigation, examination or analysis."
---

A physical sample collected from, or related to, an individual for the purpose of investigation, examination or analysis.

**Purpose.** To record details about a physical sample collected from, or related to, an individual for the purpose of investigation, examination or analysis.

## Source

| Model | Leg | Role |
|---|---|---|
| `openEHR-EHR-CLUSTER.specimen.v1` | openEHR | defines this table |

## Columns

| Column | Type | Null | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | `uuid primary key` | no | Primary key. | — |
| `specimen_type`<br />`specimen_type_code`<br />`specimen_type_system`<br />`specimen_type_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Specimen type | `/items[at0029]` |
| `specimen_label` | `text` | yes | Specimen label | `/items[at0098]` |
| `specimen_description` | `text` | yes | Specimen description | `/items[at0097]` |
| `number_of_fragments` | `integer` | yes | Number of fragments | `/items[at0099]` |
| `laboratory_specimen_identifier_value`<br />`laboratory_specimen_identifier_system` | text, text<br />`text`, `text` | yes | Laboratory specimen identifier | `/items[at0001]` |
| `external_identifier_value`<br />`external_identifier_system` | text, text<br />`text`, `text` | yes | External identifier | `/items[at0088]` |
| `date_time_received` | `timestamptz` | yes | Date/time received | `/items[at0034]` |
| `sampling_context`<br />`sampling_context_code`<br />`sampling_context_system`<br />`sampling_context_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Sampling context | `/items[at0008]` |
| `collection_method`<br />`collection_method_code`<br />`collection_method_system`<br />`collection_method_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Collection method | `/items[at0007]` |
| `collection_description` | `text` | yes | Collection description | `/items[at0079]` |
| `source_site`<br />`source_site_code`<br />`source_site_system`<br />`source_site_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Source site | `/items[at0087]` |
| `collection_date_time` | `timestamptz` | yes | Collection date/time | `/items[at0015]` |
| `hazard_warning`<br />`hazard_warning_code`<br />`hazard_warning_system`<br />`hazard_warning_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Hazard warning | `/items[at0005]` |
| `collection_setting`<br />`collection_setting_code`<br />`collection_setting_system`<br />`collection_setting_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Collection setting | `/items[at0067]` |
| `specimen_collector_identifier_value`<br />`specimen_collector_identifier_system` | text, text<br />`text`, `text` | yes | Specimen collector identifier | `/items[at0070]` |
| `number_of_containers` | `integer` | yes | Number of containers | `/items[at0080]` |
| `parent_specimen_identifier_value`<br />`parent_specimen_identifier_system` | text, text<br />`text`, `text` | yes | Parent specimen identifier | `/items[at0003]` |
| `specimen_quality_issue`<br />`specimen_quality_issue_code`<br />`specimen_quality_issue_system`<br />`specimen_quality_issue_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Specimen quality issue | `/items[at0042]` |
| `adequacy_for_testing`<br />`adequacy_for_testing_code`<br />`adequacy_for_testing_system`<br />`adequacy_for_testing_valueset_id` | coded text<br />`text`, `text`, `text`, `text` | yes | Adequacy for testing | `/items[at0041]` |
| `comment` | `text` | yes | Comment | `/items[at0045]` |

## Constraints

```sql
check ((specimen_type_code is null and specimen_type_system is null and specimen_type_valueset_id is null) or (specimen_type is not null and specimen_type_code is not null and specimen_type_system is not null and specimen_type_valueset_id is not null))
check (laboratory_specimen_identifier_system is null or laboratory_specimen_identifier_value is not null)
check (external_identifier_system is null or external_identifier_value is not null)
check ((sampling_context_code is null and sampling_context_system is null and sampling_context_valueset_id is null) or (sampling_context is not null and sampling_context_code is not null and sampling_context_system is not null and sampling_context_valueset_id is not null))
check ((collection_method_code is null and collection_method_system is null and collection_method_valueset_id is null) or (collection_method is not null and collection_method_code is not null and collection_method_system is not null and collection_method_valueset_id is not null))
check ((source_site_code is null and source_site_system is null and source_site_valueset_id is null) or (source_site is not null and source_site_code is not null and source_site_system is not null and source_site_valueset_id is not null))
check ((hazard_warning_code is null and hazard_warning_system is null and hazard_warning_valueset_id is null) or (hazard_warning is not null and hazard_warning_code is not null and hazard_warning_system is not null and hazard_warning_valueset_id is not null))
check ((collection_setting_code is null and collection_setting_system is null and collection_setting_valueset_id is null) or (collection_setting is not null and collection_setting_code is not null and collection_setting_system is not null and collection_setting_valueset_id is not null))
check (specimen_collector_identifier_system is null or specimen_collector_identifier_value is not null)
check (number_of_containers is null or number_of_containers >= 0)
check (parent_specimen_identifier_system is null or parent_specimen_identifier_value is not null)
check ((specimen_quality_issue_code is null and specimen_quality_issue_system is null and specimen_quality_issue_valueset_id is null) or (specimen_quality_issue is not null and specimen_quality_issue_code is not null and specimen_quality_issue_system is not null and specimen_quality_issue_valueset_id is not null))
check ((adequacy_for_testing_code is null and adequacy_for_testing_system is null and adequacy_for_testing_valueset_id is null) or (adequacy_for_testing is not null and adequacy_for_testing_code is not null and adequacy_for_testing_system is not null and adequacy_for_testing_valueset_id is not null))
```

## References

| Columns | Target | On delete |
|---|---|---|
| `specimen_type_valueset_id, specimen_type_code, specimen_type_system, specimen_type` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `sampling_context_valueset_id, sampling_context_code, sampling_context_system, sampling_context` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `collection_method_valueset_id, collection_method_code, collection_method_system, collection_method` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `source_site_valueset_id, source_site_code, source_site_system, source_site` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `hazard_warning_valueset_id, hazard_warning_code, hazard_warning_system, hazard_warning` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `collection_setting_valueset_id, collection_setting_code, collection_setting_system, collection_setting` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `specimen_quality_issue_valueset_id, specimen_quality_issue_code, specimen_quality_issue_system, specimen_quality_issue` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |
| `adequacy_for_testing_valueset_id, adequacy_for_testing_code, adequacy_for_testing_system, adequacy_for_testing` | [`valueset_code`](/docs/tables/valueset_code) | restrict |

## Referenced by

- [`investigation_screening_specific_investigation_additiona_45e74e`](/docs/tables/investigation_screening_specific_investigation_additiona_45e74e) via `specimen_id`
- [`laboratory_test_result_specimen_detail`](/docs/tables/laboratory_test_result_specimen_detail) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_structured_source_site`](/docs/tables/specimen_structured_source_site) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_specimen_collector_details`](/docs/tables/specimen_specimen_collector_details) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_container_details`](/docs/tables/specimen_container_details) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_digital_representation`](/docs/tables/specimen_digital_representation) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_container_contents`](/docs/tables/specimen_container_contents) via `specimen_id`
- [`specimen_summary_specimen_details`](/docs/tables/specimen_summary_specimen_details) via `specimen_id`

## Child tables

4 tables hang off `specimen`, one row per repetition.

### `specimen_structured_source_site`

Child table — one row per repetition, deleted with its parent.

| Column | Type | Null | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | `uuid primary key` | no | Primary key. | — |
| `specimen_id` | `uuid` → [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | no | — | — |
| `position` | `integer` | no | Order of this row within its parent, from zero. | — |
| `anatomical_location_id` | `uuid` | yes | — | — |
| `anatomical_location_circle_id` | `uuid` | yes | — | — |
| `anatomical_location_relative_id` | `uuid` | yes | — | — |

#### Constraints

```sql
check (num_nonnulls(anatomical_location_id, anatomical_location_circle_id, anatomical_location_relative_id) = 1)
```

#### Unique

- `specimen_id, position`

#### References

| Columns | Target | On delete |
|---|---|---|
| `specimen_id` | [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | cascade |
| `anatomical_location_id` | [`anatomical_location`](/docs/tables/anatomical_location) | no action |
| `anatomical_location_circle_id` | [`anatomical_location_circle`](/docs/tables/anatomical_location_circle) | no action |
| `anatomical_location_relative_id` | [`anatomical_location_relative`](/docs/tables/anatomical_location_relative) | no action |

#### Indexes

- `specimen_structured_source_site_anatomical_location_id_idx` on `anatomical_location_id`
- `specimen_structured_source_site_anatomical_location_circ_21cf7d` on `anatomical_location_circle_id`
- `specimen_structured_source_site_anatomical_location_rela_ce854e` on `anatomical_location_relative_id`

### `specimen_specimen_collector_details`

Child table — one row per repetition, deleted with its parent.

| Column | Type | Null | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | `uuid primary key` | no | Primary key. | — |
| `specimen_id` | `uuid` → [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | no | — | — |
| `position` | `integer` | no | Order of this row within its parent, from zero. | — |
| `organization_id` | `uuid` | yes | — | — |
| `person_id` | `uuid` | yes | — | — |

#### Constraints

```sql
check (num_nonnulls(organization_id, person_id) = 1)
```

#### Unique

- `specimen_id, position`

#### References

| Columns | Target | On delete |
|---|---|---|
| `specimen_id` | [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | cascade |
| `organization_id` | [`organization`](/docs/tables/organization) | no action |
| `person_id` | [`person`](/docs/tables/person) | no action |

#### Indexes

- `specimen_specimen_collector_details_organization_id_idx` on `organization_id`
- `specimen_specimen_collector_details_person_id_idx` on `person_id`

### `specimen_container_details`

Child table — one row per repetition, deleted with its parent.

| Column | Type | Null | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | `uuid primary key` | no | Primary key. | — |
| `specimen_id` | `uuid` → [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | no | — | — |
| `position` | `integer` | no | Order of this row within its parent, from zero. | — |
| `specimen_container_id` | `uuid` | no | Container details | `/items[at0085]` |

#### Unique

- `specimen_id, position`
- `specimen_id, specimen_container_id`

#### References

| Columns | Target | On delete |
|---|---|---|
| `specimen_id` | [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | cascade |
| `specimen_container_id` | [`specimen_container`](/docs/tables/specimen_container) | no action |

#### Indexes

- `specimen_container_details_specimen_container_id_idx` on `specimen_container_id`

### `specimen_digital_representation`

Child table — one row per repetition, deleted with its parent.

| Column | Type | Null | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | `uuid primary key` | no | Primary key. | — |
| `specimen_id` | `uuid` → [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | no | — | — |
| `position` | `integer` | no | Order of this row within its parent, from zero. | — |
| `attachment_id` | `uuid` | no | Digital representation | `/items[at0096]` |

#### Unique

- `specimen_id, position`
- `specimen_id, attachment_id`

#### References

| Columns | Target | On delete |
|---|---|---|
| `specimen_id` | [`specimen`](/docs/tables/specimen) | cascade |
| `attachment_id` | [`attachment`](/docs/tables/attachment) | restrict |

#### Indexes

- `specimen_digital_representation_attachment_id_idx` on `attachment_id`

## Value sets

| Value set | Codes |
|---|---|
| `org.openehr::openEHR-EHR-CLUSTER.specimen.v1/adequacy_for_testing` | 3 |
| `org.openehr::openEHR-EHR-CLUSTER.specimen.v1/specimen_quality_issue` | 10 |