An apparatus for characterizing a specimen and/or specimen container. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, a light source configured to provide lighting of the imaging location, and a hyperspectral image capture device. The hyperspectral image capture device is configured to generate and capture a spectrally-resolved image of a small portion of the specimen container and specimen at a spectral image capture device. The spectrally-resolved image data received at the spectral image capture device is processed by a computer to determine at least one of: segmentation of at least one of the specimen and/or specimen container, and determination of a presence or absence of an interferent, such as hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container, and specimen testing apparatus including a characterization apparatus are described, as are other aspects.