The surgical gown is made up of fabrics that are used in the surgical process. These fabric types include polyester and Lycra fabrics, among others. Because of their qualities, these fabrics are used in a variety of situations, especially those where comfort, hygiene and appearance are key factors. A gown is specifically designed for the purposes of supporting a surgical patient's body and reducing the risk of suffocation and other dangers that can occur during the procedure. Before choosing a surgical gown, you should know the different types of fabrics that are available.

The most common surgical gown material is made up of single-use materials such as polyester or Lycra. The one-use dress does not need to be dry cleaned, but it must be professionally ironed. The good thing about the one-use dress is that it is made up of only one layer and comes off very easily, while the machine washable ones can take a longer time to get ready. Many individuals find that single-use dresses are very comfortable to wear, especially when they have to be in surgery.

Another type of surgical gown material is one with a barrier performance rating (PB70). The PB70 specification establishes the level of resistance that the fabric provides against friction, suction, and abrasion. There are many different brands of nonwoven barrier performance fabrics available, with each brand providing slightly different protection. Because of this, some hospitals choose to use PB70 surgical gowns even if other options are available.

A third option that may be used in surgical gown material is a material that combines breathability and moisture loss properties with water vapor transmission rate (WTR). While the combination of breathability and moisture loss characteristics is desirable, the combination of WTR makes the fabric more resistant to abrasion and abrasions. Some of the best known fabrics with both characteristics are Leggett and Plank, although there are others.

An excellent combination is a blend of moisture-absorbing and water-wicking properties. An all surgical cotton dress with a high moisture absorbency is the most effective way to increase the amount of absorption through WTR. An all cotton isolation gown, however, will not provide as much protection against abrasion and abrasions. When choosing a dress with high moisture absorbency or an all cotton construction, it is important to determine whether or not the material has a good Specification D. The Specification D is a numerical value that specifies the amount of abrasion, abrasive, and water vapor transmission rate that the fabric can withstand. This value is based on specifications provided by the International Organization for Standardization (ASTM).

A single-use dressing system provides the best protection against abrasion and bruising. The use of such a system should be combined with another feature, the ability to wick moisture away from the body. For surgical gowns intended for single-use, the best option is to choose a material with high moisture absorption and low water vapor transmission rates. This combination offers excellent protection to patients in terms of abrasion and bruising. These gowns also offer the advantage of being washable at home.

Absence of bodily fluids in surgical gown materials is an important feature. Many gown materials are designed to resist migration or entrapment of bodily fluids, but lack the properties needed to prevent fluid migration or entrapment. Single-use gowns with high moisture and water absorption characteristics and a short lifespan of only six months are the worst choice for this application. Such disposable gowns may contain potentially infectious materials like blood, secretions, and other bodily fluids, which pose serious health threats to patients when not properly sterilized.

High quality disposable gowns made from high moisture fabrics with a short lifespan are required for this application. Such fabrics include nitrile, polyester, and vinyl among others. Surgeons prefer single-use medical uniforms that offer thermal comfort. In order to achieve thermal comfort in surgical gowns, medical apparel designers have developed special fabrics with moisture-repelling properties. This includes fabrics like velour with a special reflective surface and polyester with a fine physical texture that wicks away excess moisture.