Which preservative is commonly used in bacti sample bottles?

Sodium thiosulphate is commonly used in bacteria sample bottles as a preservative because of its effectiveness in neutralizing chlorine and other disinfectants that may be present in water samples. This is crucial for ensuring that the bacterial population in the sample remains intact and representative of the original water source. By eliminating the effects of these substances, sodium thiosulphate helps preserve the microbial integrity of the sample for accurate analysis.

Other preservatives like potassium dichromate, boric acid, and hydrochloric acid may be used in different contexts or for different types of analyses, but they do not serve the same purpose as sodium thiosulphate in protecting the viability of bacteria in water samples. Potassium dichromate is more commonly associated with preserving chemical constituents and is toxic to microorganisms, while boric acid and hydrochloric acid can alter the pH or the chemical characteristics of the sample, potentially leading to inaccurate results in microbiological assessments. Therefore, sodium thiosulphate is the preferred choice for maintaining the bacterial integrity in samples meant for microbial analysis.