A characterization apparatus (112, 712), comprising: an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen; an image capture device (434, 434A, 434B, 434C) located adjacent to the imaging location; and a light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) located adjacent to the imaging location configured to provide back lighting of the imaging location, the light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) further configured to display a switchable pattern wherein the pattern may be switched from one pattern to a different pattern, whereby a first portion of the light panel assembly is lighted and a second portion, contiguous with the first portion, is unlit; wherein the light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) comprises: - a frame including a first side and a second side; - a light source that - is spectrally switchable between two or more of: white light, red light, green light, blue light, ultraviolet light, near infrared light, and infrared light; and - comprises a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the first side and a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the second side of the frame; - a light guide positioned adjacent to the plurality of individual light sources along the first side and adjacent to the plurality of individual sources along the second side; - a pattern generator positioned in front of the light guide and configured to produce the pattern. an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen; an image capture device (434, 434A, 434B, 434C) located adjacent to the imaging location; and a light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) located adjacent to the imaging location configured to provide back lighting of the imaging location, the light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) further configured to display a switchable pattern wherein the pattern may be switched from one pattern to a different pattern, whereby a first portion of the light panel assembly is lighted and a second portion, contiguous with the first portion, is unlit; wherein the light panel assembly (436, 436A, 436B, 436C) comprises: - a frame including a first side and a second side; - a light source that - is spectrally switchable between two or more of: white light, red light, green light, blue light, ultraviolet light, near infrared light, and infrared light; and - comprises a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the first side and a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the second side of the frame; - a light guide positioned adjacent to the plurality of individual light sources along the first side and adjacent to the plurality of individual sources along the second side; - a pattern generator positioned in front of the light guide and configured to produce the pattern. - a frame including a first side and a second side; - a light source that - is spectrally switchable between two or more of: white light, red light, green light, blue light, ultraviolet light, near infrared light, and infrared light; and - comprises a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the first side and a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the second side of the frame; - is spectrally switchable between two or more of: white light, red light, green light, blue light, ultraviolet light, near infrared light, and infrared light; and - comprises a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the first side and a plurality of individual light sources arranged along the second side of the frame; - a light guide positioned adjacent to the plurality of individual light sources along the first side and adjacent to the plurality of individual sources along the second side; - a pattern generator positioned in front of the light guide and configured to produce the pattern.