HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ISOLATION GOWN FOR YOUR BUSINESS: 3 THINGS TO KNOW.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the use of isolation gowns has continued to increase in America, and globally too. A report published in August 2020 found that North America holds the largest market for isolation gowns with an expected growth of nearly 5.5 percent in the next five years.

If your business or industrial laundry facility is looking to purchase isolation gowns or expand its healthcare textile rental and laundering services, isolation gowns present a profitable opportunity.

Knowing how to select the right isolation gown level for protection is important and we understand that it can be confusing, given all the different options available.

We take you through all the fundamentals – from what isolation gowns are, what the different levels mean to the three key things to consider when selecting the right gown to meet the needs of your end customer.

What are Isolation Gowns?

Isolation gowns, also called non-surgical gowns, are a type of PPE designed to protect the wearer from the spread of illnesses and diseases if they encounter a source of infection—whether solid or liquid. This includes blood, body fluids, and other infectious materials.

An isolation gown also provides two-way protection, keeping both the wearer and the patient safe from infection. The gown typically hits at the knee and ties closed in the back. It only protects against frontal contamination with partial neck-to-knee protection.

Three Things to Consider When Choosing an Isolation Gown

Consider the following factors before choosing which isolation gowns to purchase for your business.

1) The Purpose of the Isolation Gown

Who will be wearing the gown? In what setting will they be working? The answers to those questions determine what type of isolation gowns you need.

2) The Gown’s Material

Disposable isolation gowns are made from polyethylene or polypropylene. Reusable isolation gowns are made from cotton or synthetic materials like polyester or a poly-cotton blend. Synthetic materials generally do a better job blocking fluids, giving them an edge over cotton when it comes to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

3) The Risk Level of the Environment

The risk-level of the environment and type of exposure anticipated determines what types of isolation gowns you need. For example, in a low-risk environment (like a blood draw), the medical professional mostly likely needs an AAMI, Level 2 gown. We’ll dive more into the risk and classification types below.

What’s the Difference Between Isolation Gown Levels?

Protective apparel, like isolation gowns, must conform to a set of standards and undergo a specific set of tests to determine the “liquid barrier performance and classification of protective apparel and drapes intended for use in health care facilities.2”

The standard ANSI/AAMI PB70:20122 created a classification system (Levels 1-4) for all apparel used in a healthcare setting. This includes isolation gowns, surgical gowns, and more. The FDA requires that all relevant medical textile manufacturers meet these standards.

What Type of Testing is Needed for Healthcare Textiles?

The AAMI is the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the advancement and safe use of medical technology. This organization, along with the ANSI (American National Standard Institute), established the testing standards used to evaluate isolation gowns and other healthcare textiles.

Manufacturers must use the following tests4 to determine a material or garment’s level of protection:

• Impact Penetration: determines how well a material resists water penetration under spray impact
• Hydrostatic Pressure: determines how well a material resists water penetration under spray impact
• Viral Penetration Test: determines how well a material resists bacteriophage Phi-X174 penetration

Level one gowns must only pass the impact penetration test.

Level two and level three gowns must demonstrate low water resistance and moderate water resistance (respectively) during the impact penetration and hydrostatic pressure tests. Level four gowns must pass the viral penetration test.

Four Different Isolation Gown Levels

The four classifications used for isolation gowns are as follows3:

Note: Standards Recognized by the FDA

One Last Tip Before You Choose Which Isolation Gowns to Buy

Companies might advertise different product names when selling isolation gowns—patient gown, medical gown, procedural gown, non-surgical gown, etc. Ignore the name and focus on the level of protection advertised. A gown designed for use in a healthcare setting will include packaging or a description that clearly indicates what level of protection it offers. The level matters most because that’s what hospitals will care about when inquiring about your offerings.

Ready to Purchase Isolation Gowns?

Venus Group Makes Healthcare Textiles Engineered for Safety and Comfort

When you’re ready to purchase isolation gowns for your business or institutional laundry facility, turn to Venus Group. We’re a textile manufacturer in the USA that manufactures a myriad of reusable medical textiles.