USP 861 Test for Determining the Diameter of Surgical Sutures

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of USP 861 testing. The USP 861 standard, designed by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), regulates the principles for determining the diameter of surgical sutures. The measuring equipment used to determine the diameter of surgical sutures is mechanical or electrical and equipped with a direct read dial, digital readout or printed readout.

Surgical threads (surgical threads) come in various sizes. Stitches are grouped in different sizes according to the diameter of the thread. The classification established by the US Pharmacopeia (USP) is widely accepted worldwide. However, some European countries use the metric classification system of surgical threads by thread size.

The higher the diameter of the surgical thread, the stronger the tensile strength. This classification helps all manufacturers around the world adopt uniform standards. It also helps surgeons choose and request the correct thread size required for a particular procedure.

Surgical thread diameter is one of the criteria involved in its selection and applies to both needle and thread. The diameter or gauge is expressed differently depending on the reference pharmacopoeia (EP or USP), and there is a wide variety of diameters.

Surgical suture material can be made from a single filament or several filaments:

• Monofilament: These threads are an attractive option due to their strength, low tissue entrainment, and low propensity to spread infection.
• Multifilament: Compared to monofilament yarns, the gaps between the fibers facilitate the spread of pathogens along the fiber and the risk of developing infection is higher.
• Non-absorbable: In the past, these sutures played an important role in the development of surgical procedures. It is still used today, especially in cardiovascular surgery. Non-absorbable sutures provide long-term support as they remain on the body permanently.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with USP 861 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.