One or more parts taken from a system and intended to provide information on that system or on a subsystem or to provide a basis for a decision on either of these.

The system from which a sample is taken may be a subject of investigation or may itself be a sample. The sample is assumed to be representative of the system. The term specimen is sometimes used with the same meaning. The system may be human or non-human.

References:
The version 1.1 NHS Standard EDIFACT Messages for Pathology Requests and Reports, 2001

This class is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	SAMPLES COLLECTED