Lab Coats and Scrubs

Lab coats are usually white with long sleeves, designed to protect the wearer from accidental spills and their clothing from cross contamination. Lab coats provide a limited resistance to fire and can easily be removed in an emergency. Usually made of cotton or cotton blend fabric they can be laundered at high temperatures to ensure hygiene and cleanliness. Scrubs are primarily worn by those in hospitals concerned with patient care. Designed to protect both wearer and patient, scrubs have been the uniform of operating theatre staff for nearly 40 years. Other hospital care workers wear scrubs so that patients can easily identify them and, in the case of those working in emergency medicine, to protect their own clothing from accidents. Like lab coats, scrubs are cleaned under exacting conditions but disposable options are also available for both lab coats and scrubs ensuring minimal cross-contamination.