Question

Which one of the following preservatives is used while packing catgut cultures?

• A. Isopropyl alcohol
• B. Colloidal iodine
• C. Glutaraldehyde
• D. Hydrogen peroxide

Hint:

Catgut suture packets are preserved in isopropyl alcohol, which keeps the strand sterile and supple.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Recall what catgut is.
Catgut is an absorbable surgical suture made from the collagen of animal intestine. Once it is manufactured and sterilized, it must be kept moist, sterile, and free of bacterial growth until it is used on a patient.

Step 2: Understand what the packaging fluid needs to do.
The fluid used in the sealed catgut packet has to stop bacteria from growing, keep the strand supple so it does not turn brittle, and not damage the collagen structure that gives the suture its strength.

Step 3: See why isopropyl alcohol fits this role.
Isopropyl alcohol is used as the standard preservative fluid in catgut packaging. It keeps the suture sterile and pliable without breaking down the collagen fibers the way a harsher chemical would.

Step 4: Rule out the other options.
Colloidal iodine and hydrogen peroxide are used as skin or wound antiseptics, not as the storage fluid inside a suture packet. Glutaraldehyde is a strong disinfectant used to sterilize instruments and endoscopes, and it is too harsh for long-term storage of a collagen strand, since it can over-harden the material.

Step 5: Final answer.
The preservative used while packing catgut cultures is isopropyl alcohol.
\[ \boxed{\text{Isopropyl alcohol}} \]