Drug Testing Laboratory Practice Test

For urine storage not exceeding 1 day, what is the recommended temperature?

Refrigerator between 2-6°C Deep frozen at -8 to -10°C Prolonged storage at -20°C Cool and dry place

Correct Answer:

Refrigerator between 2-6°C

Explanation:

Keeping urine samples for up to a day cold slows down microbial growth and chemical changes that could alter drug concentrations. Refrigeration at about 2–6°C minimizes these changes, preserving stability until testing. Freezing (at -8 to -10°C or around -20°C) is used for longer-term storage; thawing can cause precipitation or degradation and multiple freeze–thaw cycles should be avoided, which makes it less suitable for a short 1-day window. A cool and dry place at room temperature doesn’t adequately suppress growth and chemical changes over a day, so it’s not ideal. Hence, refrigerating at 2–6°C is the best choice for not exceeding 1 day.

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