Isolation Gowns for Diagnostic and Research Laboratories in Canada
Which Gown Level Does a Diagnostic Laboratory Need?
Level 1 covers the bench work that fills most laboratory days, and the buying mistake is over-specifying it. A Disposable Protective Gowns - Non-Woven, Fluid-Resistant is a single-use barrier against contact and small splashes, which is what pipetting, plating and instrument maintenance actually produce. Level 2 belongs where a whole sample can be spilled, and a laboratory that buys Level 2 for every task pays for a barrier it does not use.
What Do the Barrier Levels Actually Measure?
ANSI/AAMI PB70 sorts gowns into four levels using two liquid tests: impact penetration, where a measured volume is sprayed at the fabric, and hydrostatic pressure, where water is pressed against it until it passes through. Level 1 is the lightest and Level 4 adds a film, and the numbers describe water-based liquid only. That is the fact buyers miss: a PB70 level is a splash rating, not a chemical resistance rating, and no amount of gown level replaces an apron when the bench handles solvents.
Is a Gown a Substitute for a Lab Coat?
No, and a laboratory needs both for different reasons. A lab coat is reusable, covers the torso and arms all shift, and comes off at the bench door; an isolation gown is single-use and task-bound. The failure mode in a research lab is a gown worn over street clothes from bench to corridor, which moves whatever the bench had onto a door handle. Post the doffing point at the bench exit and stock the gowns next to it, not in a cupboard at the end of the room.
How Many Gowns Does a Lab Get Through?
| Task in the lab | Gown level | Change point |
|---|---|---|
| Routine plating and pipetting | Level 1 | End of task |
| Handling liquid cultures | Level 1 or 2 | Any visible splash |
| Sample receipt and unpacking | Level 1 | End of unpacking |
| Instrument maintenance with solvent | Apron, not a gown | End of task |
| Decontamination duties | Level 1 or 2 | When wet or soiled |
| Animal or tissue work | Level 2 | End of procedure |
What Should the Purchase Order State?
Level, size range, cuff type and case count, in that order. Sleeve length and cuff design decide whether gloves can be pulled over the cuff, which is the difference between a gown that seals at the wrist and one that gaps. Ask for the PB70 level in writing rather than a claim that a gown is fluid-resistant, since fluid-resistant describes a test outcome and PB70 names which one. A 
Nitrile Gloves — 3.5mil Standard, Blue case and Bouffant Caps 24-inch usually ship in the same order, because a gown without a head cover leaves the bench protocol half done. Running a diagnostic or research laboratory? See our diagnostic laboratory supplies for the PPE lines labs order together.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers. Reselling? become a distributor.
References
- CCOHS — Personal Protective Equipment (checked 18 October 2026)
- CCOHS — Gloves (checked 18 October 2026)
Printable companion: the compliance log sheets include a PPE issue line, so gown use per bench can be reconciled with stock.
Sizing PPE against bench headcount? The clinic supply planner converts shifts per week into gowns per case.
Related Reading
- Isolation Gown Standards: ASTM F2407 and AAMI PB70 Compared for Buyers
- AAMI Level 2 Isolation Gowns: What the Barrier Rating Actually Means
- Disposable Isolation Gowns: When Level 1 Is Enough
Frequently Asked Questions
Which level does a diagnostic laboratory need?
Level 1 covers most bench work where the exposure is a small splash and the gown is a barrier against contact rather than a soak. Level 2 is the choice for tasks with more fluid, such as handling liquid cultures or working over an open sample.
Is an isolation gown the same as a lab coat?
No. A lab coat is reusable, launderable and worn all shift; an isolation gown is single-use and worn for one task. A laboratory programme usually needs both, and mixing them up is where cross-contamination between benches starts.
Do gowns protect against chemicals?
No. PB70 measures penetration by water-based liquid, not permeation by solvents. Work with organic solvents needs a chemical-resistant apron or suit verified to a permeation standard, and a higher gown level does not substitute.
Can a gown be worn for a whole shift?
No. A single-use gown is discarded when the task ends or when it is visibly soiled, whichever comes first. A gown worn from bench to corridor to lunchroom is carrying whatever the first bench had.
Last updated: October 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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