Medical /Disposable Gowns

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To create a safety barrier between patients and medical professionals, medical gowns/isolation gowns or other protective gowns are worn by medical professionals as personal protective equipment (PPE).

FDA Classifies Medical Gowns Into 3 Categories

Surgical Gowns
Surgical Isolation Gowns
Non-Surgical Gowns

Medical gowns intended for use in health care settings may have various names, including surgical gowns, isolation gowns, surgical isolation gowns, non-surgical gowns, procedural gowns, and operating room gowns.

Materials for Medical Gowns

Medical gowns are commonly made from these nonwoven materials:

1. Polypropylene
2. Polyester
3. Polyethylene

Rather than sewn, the garments are typically assembled using thermal, chemical, or mechanical seaming.

Protection Levels of Medical/ Disposable Gowns

In 2004, the FDA recognized the standards from the American National Standards Institute & Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (ANSI/AAMI) PB70:2003. The standard describes the barrier protection levels of gowns and other protective apparel intended for use in healthcare facilities:

Level 1: Minimal risk, to be used, for example, during basic care, standard isolation, a cover gown for visitors, or in a standard medical unit.
Level 2: Low risk, to be used, for example, during the blood draw, suturing, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or a pathology lab.
Level 3: Moderate risk, to be used, for example, during the arterial blood draw, inserting an intravenous (IV) line, in the Emergency Room, or for trauma cases.
Level 4: High risk, to be used, for example, during long, fluid intense procedures, surgery, when pathogen resistance is needed or infectious diseases are suspected (non-airborne).

When choosing disposable gowns, make sure that you understand the intended use of each protection level.