Medical Lab Coats

Filed under: Lab Coats — john at 9:01 am on Thursday, March 30, 2006

Medical lab coats are designed for use in medical and health institutions, and are commonly worn by doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners.  Other medical lab coat uses include in research and development laboratories. They are generally come in a wide variety of designs and materials.

Casual and comfortable are the necessary ingredients for great custom medical lab coats and custom lab coats. For a better first impression, lab coat vendors and suppliers offer personalized embroidery of names, titles or logos of organizations embroidered on medical lab coats.  Monograms are available in script or block lettering.   Embroidered prices include one placement embroidery. Visit HealthCare Embroidered Uniform Clipart Gallery for a wide selection of medical-themed embroidery clipart designed onto the lab coat or other custom medical uniform at no extra charge!

When done right, the medical lab coats make a great impression for hospitals, dentist’s office, doctors’ offices, and medical offices. For people in healthcare work, flash and style are secondary concerns; so custom medical lab coats are conservative and the logos subtle.

Medical lab coats are often identified with doctors. Some people say these lab coats are worn so that the doctors can be distinguished from the patients. However, medical lab coats   serve a number of vital purposes. When a doctor uses a lab coat it conveys several different messages. First, lab coats give an appearance of professionalism. The lab coat becomes a symbol of the doctor’s expertise. Second, lab coats are very functional because they have so many pockets. Doctors can have pens and papers to bring and so   lab coats that have the pockets are beneficial and necessary.

The design and material of medical lab coats vary from profession to profession. Those working in medical laboratories opt for the white cotton or cotton/polyester blend. Although more stain resistant, this kind of fabric may react with some substances that may come into contact with the lab coat. For the medical practitioners, the medical lab coat not only serves to protect the doctor, but also is a symbol of his expertise.  For other hospital or clinic workers, the lab coat is merely symbolic to identify them as part of the medical staff. Therefore the choice of material has greater flexibility. Even knitted fleece is an option. This group may opt for a less formal and relaxed style. So, a simple cardigan styled half-length lab coat without lapels but with three-quarter sleeves may be good.

Great deals on other medical lab coats fabrics can be ordered online. Here are some samples.

  • 100% cotton medium weight (5 ounce) knee length pure cotton twill. The traditional medical cotton coat. Requires ironing, and may shrink slightly. Order blank or custom made. 
  • Bright white 65% polyester/35% cotton twill (6.2oz). The fabric has minimal shrinkage, thus no ironing is required. Order for custom made styles including those with chef buttons, zippers for inside pockets, belts, and embroidery.
  • 60% cotton / 40% polyester (4.5oz). Light weight shirting fabric with a fine herringbone-weave, a soft, cool comfortable feel and elegant draping. Wash and wear fabric. 
  • 100% cotton heavyweight fluid-resistant (8oz) twill. Wash and wear, the fabric has a fluid repellant finish, thus, water just runs off the coat. The surface has a soft brushed texture and does not require ironing.
  • 100% Dacron polyester ultra-lightweight (2oz). Fabric is fluid-release, antimicrobial-treated with a fine carbon pinstripe at half-inch intervals. Custom options are available.

Style-wise, solid colored lab coats are now being preferred as the wearer’s form of self-expression or identity of his field of study. There are medical professors who may wear black because their students wear the traditional white coat. Surgeons take on the teal colored coat while hospital staffs are differentiated by the color they wear; nurses, pink; radiologists, blue, etc.   Pediatricians don lab coats printed with small cartoon characters, planets or stars because this is a more friendly sight to children than the start while traditional coat. As for medical students, the cotton coats are tie-dyed for that homey look.