Before medical lab coats were worn by doctors and medical practitioners, it was scientists who wore them first. In the early times, myths and superstitions surrounded the field of medicine, and only scientists were the only one highly regarded as a reliable authority for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment of medical problems. And at that time, they are always wearing a white lab coat, and this is what doctors tried to emulate in order to gain the respect and integrity that scientists had.
Currently, white lab coats are worn by a lot of individuals in different medical fields. Most lab coats are typically made with a blend of polyester and cotton, and have a 65% and 35% ratio respectively. The design, length and style of your lab coat, as well as the manner of wearing them will usually be dictated by the standards set by the place you work in or the ethical code given by proper authorities in the medical field.
Medical lab coats are important to doctors and other people in the medical field because they primarily protect the clothing that is underneath the lab coat. Since they are typically working in an environment that involves different kinds of mess and spills, lab coats are highly recommended or even mandatory to be worn in the workplace every time. Also, lab coats can give some level of protection from chemical hazards that medical people might be exposed to.
Medical lab coats give doctors and other medical practitioners an overall professional look, and also acts as a symbol which easily distinguishes them from other professionals or workers. The attire helps command respect and integrity, as well giving a better image and aesthetics for doctors, and others like nurses, pharmacists, surgeons and lab technicians.
One important thing you need to know is that not all medical lab coats are manufactured in the same way. You might want to consider some aspects like its resistance to wrinkles, resistance to stains, available pockets, and the spaces in it which allows free movement. Try looking at these aspects whenever you are buying a lab coat.
Today, medical lab coats have much more depth when it comes to styles and designs, and have gone way beyond the generic white color as the trends in fashion have constantly been changing, as well as the needs and requirement of different areas in the medical field. Lab coats have also taken the form of lab jackets, lab vests, slipover lab gowns, and fitted lab coats. They are also much more fine-tuned to the unique needs and sizes of both men and women.
Lab coats are generally manufactured by using a combination of cotton and polyester, but there are also 100% cotton and 100% polyester variants which have its own unique use, as well as advantages and disadvantages. Those who prefer 100% cotton are the ones who are not usually working in a messy environment, as cotton-made lab coats are prone to stains and can be easily damaged. A polyester-made lab coats are better in resisting stains and damage, but are not as comfortable as the cotton ones.
