Purpose: to study the characteristics of friction of wattled surgical threads made from traditional sutural material. Materials and methods . The friction of dry and wet threads was studied on the apparatus «ComTen 94C» by the original developed technique. We fixed a cylindrical mandrel with a diameter of 40 mm, wrapped up with a rag of suede skin 18 cm long between the captures in horizontal position. After fixing the end of the thread in a mobile capture of the test car we made one turn round the mandrel and suspended weight of 50 g to the second end of the thread. The speed of the mobile capture movements made up 100 mm/min. Results. The experimental tests revealed the best sample in the group - the surgical thread of Ethibond firm covered with polibutilate. The polymeric covering of the surgical threads «Supramid Ergon sutramed» makes it possible to achieve the optimum indicators of friction in the group of the threads made from caprone. The best sample among the surgical threads made from silk is a thread by Silkam B/Braun firm with a covering made from wax and silicone. Conclusion. The modification of surgical threads by drawing a covering makes it possible to achieve optimum indicators of friction, to improve the handling qualities and gives threads the quality of autraumatics.