The temptation with scrubs is to buy on price and colour alone. But a scrub that pills, greys or loses its finish after a few dozen industrial washes costs more per wear than a properly specified one — and in clinical settings the finishes are not cosmetic. Start with the fabric system, then layer the finishes the role actually needs.
Scrub fabric systems: comfort vs durability
Most scrubs are built on one of two systems. Poly-cotton (typically 65/35) is the workhorse: durable, colour-stable, affordable, and it survives high-temperature laundry — the default for high-turnover ward stock. Poly-spandex stretch (polyester with 3-8% elastane, sometimes with rayon) trades some wash durability for four-way stretch and a more tailored fit, favoured by surgeons, theatre staff and clinicians who value mobility. A little rayon/viscose adds softness and drape but reduces wash life, so reserve it for premium or personal-issue scrubs rather than pooled stock.
| System | Feel & fit | Wash durability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poly-cotton 65/35 | Crisp, structured | High (75-90 °C tolerant) | Pooled ward stock, high turnover |
| Poly-spandex stretch | Soft, four-way stretch | Good | Theatre, surgical, personal issue |
| Poly-rayon-spandex | Softest, best drape | Moderate | Premium / individually issued |
Antimicrobial finishes — and what they really claim
An antimicrobial finish suppresses bacterial growth on the fabric to control odour and limit cross-contamination; it does not replace hand hygiene or PPE. The two common chemistries are silver-based (silver ions, durable but costlier) and quaternary ammonium / synthetic treatments (cheaper, may wash off sooner). Efficacy is measured by AATCC 100 (quantitative reduction of bacteria) or the qualitative AATCC 147 zone test. The number that matters for procurement is wash durability — ask for the post-wash retention data, because a finish that fails after 20 cycles is worthless on garments washed 200+ times a year.
Fluid repellency for at-risk roles
Roles exposed to blood and bodily fluids need fluid-repellent scrubs or gowns. Repellency is graded by tests such as AATCC 42 (impact penetration) and AATCC 127 (hydrostatic pressure); higher-barrier surgical gowns are classified under AAMI PB70 / ANSI levels 1-4. Distinguish a fluid-repellent finish (sheds splashes, breathable, suitable for general scrubs) from a true fluid-barrier garment (impermeable, for procedures). Spec the level to the exposure — over-speccing a whole hospital to barrier gowns is expensive and uncomfortable.
The base standard and comfort
Across protective clothing, EN ISO 13688 is the base standard for ergonomics, sizing, marking, ageing and harmlessness — a sensible baseline to reference even for non-PPE scrubs. Beyond compliance, comfort drives compliance in practice: breathable fabric, a little stretch in high-movement roles, and accurate sizing across a diverse workforce all reduce the complaints that derail a rollout. Wear-test fit samples on real staff before committing to a large size run.
Colour-coding and program control
Many health systems use colour-coding by role or department — one colour for nurses, another for healthcare assistants, another for physios — so patients and colleagues can identify staff at a glance. If you colour-code, lock the exact shades to Pantone references and demand post-wash colour-fastness (ISO 105) so 'navy' means the same navy across reorders and laundries. Order each role's colour in consistent dye lots to keep wards looking uniform.
Standardising scrubs across your sites?
Tell us your roles, colour-coding scheme and laundry temperature, and we will quote poly-cotton or stretch scrubs with the right antimicrobial or fluid-repellent finish — backed by AATCC and ISO 105 test reports.
Request a scrubs quote →