Especially in the hospital or lab environment it’s not uncommon for the facility’s policy to dictate that all lab coats cotton or otherwise, be sent to a hospital grade laundry facility for cleaning. These places are equipped with washing machines that have hot enough water to kill any microorganism that might be lingering on your cotton lab coat. They also use washing chemicals and soaps designed to ensure the level of cleanliness that is essential when treating injured or sick people. The nice thing about sending your cotton lab coats away to be laundered is that you don’t have to do it and they always return without any stains. Is white the only color option when it comes to cotton lab coats? White is by far and large the most popular color choice for cotton lab coats. In some offices or hospitals, other colors are used to distinguish the kinds of medical professionals. For example, in some teaching hospitals, the students wear white cotton lab coats, while the more experienced doctors wear black. It’s also not uncommon to see nurses in teal or pink lab coats as a distinguishing feature. Cotton lab coats are available in all kinds of colors. It’s up the facility policy as to what colors are appropriate.

Despite the popular opinion that lab coats are intended to make medical professionals look important, cotton lab coats actually have some pretty important functions. It’s unlikely that you went into this career field with the idea that you would stay clean. Practicing medicine is dirty business and you need protection. Cotton lab coats are intended to protect the doctor or nurse from potentially hazardous materials like blood, urine, and other bodily fluids. They are used to protect the professional from man made chemicals and acids as well.

The cotton lab coats are also very effective for their fire resistant covering in the medical lab. Even small particles of solid material like dust or aerosols are repelled for the safety of the medical professional and the patients he or she treats in the course of a day.

What makes cotton such a good choice for lab coats?

There are all kinds of materials you could choose for your lab coats. Cotton polyester blend is popular and there are specially made fabrics that are rather expensive that have been formulated for lab coats. However, cotton has some advantages that simply can’t be duplicated by blending fabrics or in a lab somewhere. You can expect the cotton lab coat to last a long time and be incredibly comfortable to wear. There is no way to ignore the soft quality of pure cotton. Not only is it pleasant for you to wear, you can bet your patients are going to appreciate the softness of your coat as well. Especially for those medical professionals with sensitive skin, an all cotton lab coat is a good choice since it tends to be less abrasive to the skin.

Once upon a time, medical doctors had lost their respectability with the general pubic. In the mid 1800’s, many of the medicines frequently prescribed by doctors were proven to be ineffective or harmful to people by the science community. In order to reestablish their respectability, many doctors started wearing the same lab coats as the scientists. It helped to give the patients their trust back in medical doctors.

It didn’t take long for the doctor coat to be a symbol of status even among the medical community. The longer the doctor coat was the more seniority and prestige the doctor in question was thought to have. In today’s hospitals and doctor offices, the doctor coat is used for identifying purposes and to protect the clothing of the doctor.

What kinds of materials are doctor coats made out of?

It is possible to order disposable doctor coats. These products are typically made from the same polypropylene material as bouffant caps and scrub hats. They are perfect for visiting doctors or in a pinch when the doctor has soiled or forgotten their personal doctor coat. However, for the most part, doctor coats are made from a cotton polyester blend. You can usually find them with 65% polyester and 35% cotton. The cotton helps to keep the doctor coats cool to wear, while the polyester is used to ensure that the doctor coats are stain resistant and long lasting.

You can expect to find medical coats in either a cotton-polyester blend or in all cotton. The blend is ideal for its durability and stain resistant qualities. On the other hand, the pure cotton medical coats are incredibly breathable and comfortable to wear. It’s a good idea to decide on your preference and purchase a few medical coats in both the light and heavy weight versions. This way you can always be sure to have the proper apparel regardless of the weather or season of the year. What kind of quality stitching should you look for in your medical coat options? It’s a sad truth that many manufacturers throw together clothes and uniform items without much regard for quality. When you are in the medical field, you want to know your scrubs and medical coats are going to last. Stitching is an incredibly important part of that. Be sure to look for medical coats that have the front facing sewn down. It’s also a good idea to purchase only medical coats with reinforced pocket corners. Topstitching along the back, shoulders, and sleeves of a medical coat is also a sign of high quality. Medical coats that have been sewn together with small stitches are also more likely to last awhile and be able to stand up the daily abuse of working in such a physical field as medicine. Look for a medical coat provider that can point you in the right direction for nice extras like customizing the fit of the medical coat so the length of the coat and the sleeves is always right.