# Specimen Defining Attributes

<mark style="color:$danger;">**This Editorial Guide is used for Education Purposes Only. It is used in the Authoring Courses and Certifications. It is based on the January 2026 Editorial Guide.**</mark>

The following defining attributes correspond to the *Specimen Attributes Summary* table.

## Specimen source identity

Specimen source identity specifies the type of individual, group, or physical location from which a specimen is collected.

* For example,
  * 419695002 | Environmental swab (specimen)| has the Specimen source identity, Environment (environment)

## Specimen source morphology

Specimen source morphology specifies the morphologic abnormality from which a specimen is obtained.

* For example,
  * 447407009 | Specimen from necrotic tissue (specimen)| has the Specimen source morphology, Necrosis (morphologic abnormality)

## Specimen source topography

Specimen source topography specifies the body site from which a specimen is obtained.

* For example,
  * 16209771000119101 | Specimen from left lower lobe of lung obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage procedure (specimen)| has the Specimen source topography, Segment of lower lobe of left lung (body structure)

## Specimen procedure

Specimen procedure identifies the procedure by which a specimen is obtained.

* For example,
  * 384744003 | Lymph node from sentinel lymph node dissection and axillary dissection (specimen)| has the Specimen procedure, Dissection procedure (procedure)

## Specimen substance

Specimen substance specifies the type of substance, pharmaceutical/biologic product, or physical object of which a specimen is comprised.

* For example,
  * 110897001 | Bone marrow cytological material (specimen)| has the Specimen substance, Bone marrow fluid (substance)

{% hint style="info" %}
Although Pharmaceutical / biologic product (product) and its descendants are considered valid values for the 370133003 |Specimen substance (attribute)| by the MRCM, they are not currently used as values for this attribute in the International Release. The only exception is 787859002 |Vaccine product (medicinal product)| and its descendants, which can be used as valid values for this attribute.
{% endhint %}

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