A surgical barbed suture package (1a) comprising: a base (5) a cover (10) configured to be placed adjacent to said base to form a suture package an outer wall (15) extending from an outer circumference of said base, said outer wall having a predetermined height such that said outer wall meets said cover when said cover is placed adjacent said base and a suture retaining area (30) within said package, wherein said area extends from a bottom surface of said cover and has a height which is substantially equivalent to the height of said outer wall, said suture retaining area configured for selectively retaining and slideably releasing a surgical barbed suture in an initial or uncompressed condition.
