Final answer:
A filter needle is used to filter out glass particles from sterile products prepared from ampules. It contains a membrane filter that captures these particles. Other options like syringe filters, cotton balls, or cheesecloth do not offer the required level of filtration for this particular application.Correct option is b) Syringe filter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item used to filter out glass particles when preparing sterile products from ampules is a filter needle. A filter needle has a built-in membrane filter that can trap glass particles that might enter the syringe when the ampule is broken open. The syringe filter is similar in function but is used primarily for smaller volumes or for solutions that need additional purification, such as the removal of bacteria with specific pore size filters like 0.2 µm. Cotton balls and cheesecloths are not designed to filter out fine particles such as glass from sterile solutions; they are more suitable for larger particulate matter or for purposes where sterility is not a key concern.
As part of quality control in clinical settings and when dealing with heat-sensitive solutions, the choice of filtration method is critical. For example, membrane filters are practical when needing to sterilize solutions that would be damaged by heat sterilization methods like autoclaving. This is particularly useful for antibiotic solutions, vitamin solutions, and large volumes of culture media. Smaller volumes, however, are more often filtered using syringe filters, which precisely aligns with the practice of preparing products from ampules using filter needles.