A medical assistant is performing a drug test on a patient. The temperature of the urine sample should be within which of the following temperature ranges for the sample to be usable?

The correct temperature range for a urine sample to be considered usable in a drug test is between 32-38 degrees Celsius (90-100 degrees Fahrenheit). This specific range is critical because urine samples that fall within this temperature range indicate that they are likely fresh and have not been compromised.

When conducting a drug test, it is important to ensure that the sample is collected and processed promptly, as temperatures outside this range may suggest adulteration or the use of synthetic urine. Samples that are too cold (below 32 degrees Celsius) might indicate that the urine is not fresh, while those that are too hot (above 38 degrees Celsius) may indicate that the sample has been tampered with or heated to produce an invalid result.

Maintaining the integrity of the sample is crucial for accurate testing and reliability of the results, which is why adherence to this temperature range is a key aspect of the drug testing protocol.