Question:hard
Which one of the following preservatives is used while packing catgut cultures?
Which one of the following preservatives is used while packing catgut cultures?
Show Hint
Catgut suture packets are preserved in isopropyl alcohol, which keeps the strand sterile and supple.
Updated On: Jul 8, 2026
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Colloidal iodine
- Glutaraldehyde
- Hydrogen peroxide
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Think about what catgut is made of.
Catgut is a collagen suture taken from animal tissue. Collagen strands can dry out, stiffen, or get infected if they are not stored correctly after sterilization.
Step 2: Work out what the storage fluid must avoid.
A good storage fluid must kill or stop bacteria without eating away at the collagen itself, since a suture that turns brittle or weak in the packet is useless in surgery.
Step 3: Match each option to its usual role.
Colloidal iodine and hydrogen peroxide are antiseptics applied to skin or wounds, not fluids meant for long-term suture storage. Glutaraldehyde is a strong instrument disinfectant that would be too harsh on a collagen strand over time. Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, is mild enough to keep the strand supple while still preventing bacterial growth, which is exactly why it is the standard packing fluid for catgut.
Step 4: Conclude.
$\boxed{\text{Isopropyl alcohol}}$
Catgut is a collagen suture taken from animal tissue. Collagen strands can dry out, stiffen, or get infected if they are not stored correctly after sterilization.
Step 2: Work out what the storage fluid must avoid.
A good storage fluid must kill or stop bacteria without eating away at the collagen itself, since a suture that turns brittle or weak in the packet is useless in surgery.
Step 3: Match each option to its usual role.
Colloidal iodine and hydrogen peroxide are antiseptics applied to skin or wounds, not fluids meant for long-term suture storage. Glutaraldehyde is a strong instrument disinfectant that would be too harsh on a collagen strand over time. Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, is mild enough to keep the strand supple while still preventing bacterial growth, which is exactly why it is the standard packing fluid for catgut.
Step 4: Conclude.
$\boxed{\text{Isopropyl alcohol}}$
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