Are “impervious” surgical gowns really liquid-proof?
by Nathan L. Belkin, PhD, Clearwater, FL It was in 1952 that William C. Beck, MD, FACS, first alerted the medical community that there was a need for the materials used in surgical gowns to have a liquid-repellent capability.1 In response to that need, both the “woven” and “non-woven” segments of the industry began to introduce a new generation of fabrics. To demonstrate their product’s resistance to liquid penetration, the woven gown industry used a number of tests that had been designed for rainwear fabrics. On the other hand, the non-woven segment used what was known as a “Mason jar” test that their trade association had developed for that specific purpose. Because of what proved to be the poor performance of many of the new materials and the obvious lack of an appropriate test method, the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on the Operating Room Environment (CORE) took a position on the matter in 1975.2 Under the leadership of Harvey R. Bernard, MD, FACS, and Dr. Beck, the enti
