Question:easy
Heat labile liquids are sterilized by which method?
Heat labile liquids are sterilized by which method?
Show Hint
If heat would wreck the liquid, you must physically strain out the microbes instead.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Hot air oven
- Autoclaving
- Membrane filter
- Moist heat
Show Solution
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: When a liquid cannot tolerate heat, sterilization must rely on a process that does not raise the temperature. That immediately rules out every furnace or steam method on the list.
Step 2: Passing the fluid through a fine membrane filter, typically with 0.22 micrometre pores, traps and removes the microorganisms while leaving the liquid cool and intact. This is the routine way to sterilize antibiotics, sera, eye drops, oils, and delicate culture media, so the correct pick is (c).
Step 3: The remaining options all apply heat. A hot air oven bakes at around 160 degrees C, while autoclaving and plain moist heat deliver pressurised steam near 121 degrees C. Any of these would spoil a heat-labile preparation.
Step 4: Keep in mind that ordinary filters stop bacteria and fungi but allow viruses through, so the term sterile here refers to removal of the larger organisms.
\[\boxed{\text{Membrane filter}}\]
Step 2: Passing the fluid through a fine membrane filter, typically with 0.22 micrometre pores, traps and removes the microorganisms while leaving the liquid cool and intact. This is the routine way to sterilize antibiotics, sera, eye drops, oils, and delicate culture media, so the correct pick is (c).
Step 3: The remaining options all apply heat. A hot air oven bakes at around 160 degrees C, while autoclaving and plain moist heat deliver pressurised steam near 121 degrees C. Any of these would spoil a heat-labile preparation.
Step 4: Keep in mind that ordinary filters stop bacteria and fungi but allow viruses through, so the term sterile here refers to removal of the larger organisms.
\[\boxed{\text{Membrane filter}}\]
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