Final answer:
Extending the reaction time in the Sandell-Kolthoff method to 15 minutes may cause overestimation of iodide due to additional iodide oxidation by non-catalyzed substances in the urine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sandell-Kolthoff reaction in urinalysis is sensitive to reaction times. In the Sandell-Kolthoff method, if the reaction time for urine samples is extended to 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes as used for calibrant standards, the measured iodide concentrations can be impacted. Specifically, the additional time may lead to a greater oxidation of iodide ions by substances present in the urine that are not catalyzed by the enzymes in the test strip, potentially resulting in overestimation of iodide concentration. This overestimation would occur because the slow, uncatalyzed reactions would have more time to proceed, forming more triiodide (I3-) that reacts in the test and leads to a darker colorimetric response.
This is analogous to other urinalysis test strips, such as glucose test strips, which also have specific reaction times to avoid false positives or negatives. Reaction kinetics play a vital role in these tests, emphasizing the importance of following recommended reaction and read times to ensure accurate results.