Final answer:
Fresh skin allografts are optimally stored at temperatures ranging from 1 to 10°C to reduce metabolic activity and inhibit bacterial growth without causing freeze damage to the tissues. The correct option is c. 1 to 10°C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct hypothermic storage temperatures for fresh skin allografts is c. 1 to 10°C. For medical specimens like fresh skin allografts that require long-term viability without freezing, the optimal storage temperatures commonly range from 1 to 10°C. This temperature range is crucial for slowing biological processes and limiting bacterial growth while preventing the damaging effects of freezing delicate tissues. It's important to distinguish this from the ultra-low temperatures used for bacterial cultures or other specimens that can tolerate or require deep freezing for preservation, which typically is below -70°C. Additionally, controlled hypothermia in a clinical setting, such as during open-heart surgery, is not indicative of storage temperatures for tissues as it involves reducing a patient's body temperature to minimize metabolic needs during the procedure.
To clarify a common misconception, lowering the temperature of food in a refrigerator does not kill bacteria; instead, it slows their growth. Similarly, hypothermic storage of allografts aims to inhibit cell deterioration and bacterial growth, thereby maintaining tissue vitality over time.