what is specimen

A specimen can refer to a sample of something, such as a biological laboratory specimen held by a biorepository for research, a portion or quantity of material for testing, examination, or study, a typical animal, plant, mineral, or part, or a sample of blood or body tissue taken for medical testing. It is used to represent a larger whole and is often collected for the purpose of study, testing, or examination. The term "specimen" is derived from the Latin word "specere," meaning "to look," and is used to provide a better understanding of a particular group or category.