The standardized specifications of surgical gown material set forth in medical standards dictate the minimum quality that should be produced when gowns are manufactured. This standard establishes the parameters for the testing, documentation, and label of surgical gowns utilized at the medical facilities. However, it doesn't necessarily cover all the needs that a medical facility deems important to choose a superior product, nor does it cover standards for evaluating new products before they are released into the marketplace. In addition, these medical facilities must also adhere to FDA regulations regarding the controlled release of these products. These FDA regulations can impose limitations on materials and methods when a facility is releasing a product to the marketplace.

When a manufacturer releases a product to the marketplace, the facility must make determinations about whether or not the new material meets the hospital's quality requirements. These quality requirements can include the reduction of contamination, reduction of irritations, and adherence to the design guidelines provided by OSHA. A significant consideration in determining if a material meets the required criteria is whether or not the material will meet the needs of the patient who will wear the medical gown. For this reason, manufacturers of surgical gowns must conduct research regarding how best to design their products to meet the unique needs of the patients they will be serving. In addition, healthcare workers who will be wearing these products need to understand the composition of the products so they can appropriately determine what chemicals, equipment, and methods are required to clean the products and to protect the health of these healthcare workers.

Other considerations that need to be addressed with the creation of new medical gown materials include the control of biological hazards and water vapor transmission rate. Both of these factors are particularly important in setting the standards for the production of surgical gowns. To control the risk of contamination, manufacturers need to develop gowns with high barrier properties and low absorption rates. Those with high barrier properties include 100% cotton blends and those with low absorption rates include synthetic blends.

Manufacturers also need to consider the absorption rates of the medical gowns they produce. High absorbency in single-use products will result in an environment that is contaminated with tiny blood particles, which can create a safety hazard while reducing the ability of the product to effectively perform its function. Manufacturers need to develop gowns with high nonwoven fabrics and low absorption rates in order to meet the regulations set forth by OSHA and other regulating agencies. The development of disposable single-use products may prove to be too costly for some manufacturers, but these products still represent a valuable solution to the problem of contaminated single-use products.

The use of high quality single-use surgical gowns with low barrier performance is essential in keeping workplaces safe. The use of high quality single-use products will result in safer working conditions and increase productivity. It is important to review the specification established by the manufacturer regarding barrier performance when purchasing a product. It is important to remember that the determination of the PH value of a single-use product is based on the concentration level of blood found in the vaginal discharge.

When purchasing any type of protective clothing or gowns, it is important to closely review all documentation concerning the manufacturing specifications. Each specification represents a detailed description of the manufacturing process and what steps were used to create the item. By reviewing the documentation it becomes easier to understand what the manufacturer is asking for when creating the protective clothing or gowns. Once all documentation regarding the specification has been reviewed, it is important to identify what items are necessary for the job to be performed and the best possible material to meet these requirements.