How Must Urine Specimens Be Handled After Collection

Question

How must urine specimens be handled after collection?
A) Store at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
B) Add a small volume to transport medium.
C) Place into incubator for up to 4 hours.
D) Immediately refrigerate.

Accepted Answer

Urine specimens should be immediately refrigerated after collection to prevent bacterial growth and changes in composition. This helps to preserve the integrity of the sample for accurate testing. Storing at room temperature can lead to bacterial growth and degradation of some components in the urine, while adding transport medium or placing in an incubator is unnecessary and may alter the results of some tests.