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.
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.