What is the recommended practice for analyzing a urine specimen?

When analyzing a urine specimen, it is essential to maintain its integrity to ensure accurate results. The recommended practice is to protect the specimen from light and refrigerate it if it cannot be analyzed within one hour. This is because urine can undergo changes in composition and concentration due to the breakdown of certain substances and the growth of bacteria when left at room temperature.

Refrigeration slows down these processes, helping to preserve the chemical and physical properties of the urine. This practice is particularly important for tests that measure substances such as glucose, ketones, and certain proteins, as these can degrade if the specimen is not handled properly. Additionally, exposure to light can affect the levels of bilirubin and other light-sensitive components in the urine, leading to inaccurate test results.

In contrast, leaving the specimen at room temperature allows for potential alterations in the sample's composition, while analyzing it immediately without precautions neglects the need for maintaining specimen integrity. Storing at room temperature for up to two hours is also not advised, as significant changes can occur within that timeframe, making timely refrigeration critical for reliable analyses.