specimen

specimen

 [spes´ĭ-men]

a small sample or part taken to show the nature of the whole, such as a small quantity of urine for urinalysis or a small fragment of tissue for microscopic study.

clean-catch specimen (clean-voided specimen) a urine specimen obtained after the external urethral area is washed with a liquid soap and rinsed well; then the patient starts a urinary stream, stops it, and voids into a sterile specimen container. The purpose of obtaining such a specimen is to minimize contamination by external organisms. Called also midstream specimen.

midstream specimen clean-catch specimen.

sputum specimen a sample of mucous secretion from the bronchi and lungs; see also sputum specimen.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

spec·i·men

(spes'ĭ-mĕn), Avoid the misspelling speciman.

A small part, or sample, of any substance or material obtained for testing.

[L. fr. specio, to look at]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

specimen

(spĕs′ə-mən)

n.

1. An individual, item, or part representative of a class or whole.

2. An organism, part of an organism, or fossil that has been collected and usually preserved, especially for display or scientific research.

3. A sample, as of tissue, blood, or urine, used for analysis and diagnosis.

4. Informal An individual; a person: a disagreeable specimen.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

specimen

A small sample of something–cells, organ, organism, plasma, tissue, whatever, that represents a whole, from which a diagnosis is rendered or other determination of said object's nature is made. See Fasting specimen, Fingerstick specimen, Frozen specimen, Rejected specimen.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

spec·i·men

(spes'i-mĕn)

A small part or sample of any substance or material obtained for testing.

[L. fr. specio, to look at]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

specimen

a whole or part of an organism used as an example or illustration.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005