What are Lab Coats?
Lab coats are protective garments designed to protect the wearers from direct exposure to dangerous chemicals and infectious materials. Lab coats are primarily used by medical professionals, research chemists and others who must work around hazardous materials in a laboratory setting. Most lab coats are constructed from tightly-woven cotton, cotton/polyester blends or disposable paper cloth. Although some may argue that lab coats only serve to keep doctors from being confused with patients, they actually serve several vital purposes. Should a dangerous chemical or an infectious sample splash on a lab coat, the wearer’s skin is mostly protected by the tight weave construction. If lab coats become saturated, however, they will lose their effectiveness and must be immediately removed. Lab coats must never be cleaned in home washing machines or general purpose laundromats. Only specialists in hazardous waste cleaning techniques should handle dirty lab coats. Another important function of l
