What is the purpose of a lab coat in biosafety?

Article published at: Nov 3, 2025 Article author: Equipo Jelrisofit Article tag: Telas Funciones
¿Para qué sirve la bata de laboratorio en la bioseguridad?
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Lab coats are used to cover personal clothing and part of the skin during experimental work. They help reduce direct contact with small splashes, droplets, dust, and contaminating materials, and allow for the removal of an outer layer if a spill occurs during the procedure.

They also help keep laboratory materials within the work area. To fulfill this function, lab coats must be removed before entering offices, dining rooms, break rooms, or other public areas, and must be sent for cleaning, decontamination, or disposal as defined by the laboratory.

Their use is part of biosafety measures, along with gloves, eye protection, hygiene practices, containment equipment, and spill response procedures.

Main functions of a lab coat

Reduce contact with splashes and contaminants

Lab coats primarily cover the torso, arms, and clothing worn underneath. This coverage reduces the chance of small splashes or contaminating material directly reaching the skin or remaining on personal clothing.

It can be especially useful during activities such as:

  • Preparation and transfer of solutions.
  • Handling of tubes, flasks, and open containers.
  • Processing of biological samples.
  • Collection or handling of blood and fluid samples.
  • Working with powders, dyes, or reagents.
  • Cleaning of laboratory surfaces and equipment.

For effective coverage, sleeves must remain extended and the front must be kept closed while working.

Protect personal clothing during work

Everyday clothing can absorb liquids, retain dust, or come into contact with laboratory surfaces. By using a lab coat as an outer layer, it can be removed at the end of work without continuing to wear a garment that was exposed to the experimental area.

This function is especially important when the worker wears the same clothes to travel to offices, public transportation, classrooms, or their home.

The lab coat must also cover loose garments, wide sleeves, drawstrings, or other items that could accidentally come into contact with samples, reagents, hot equipment, or moving parts.

Help limit the spread of contaminants from the laboratory

The lab coat can help reduce the transfer of microorganisms, chemical residues, or laboratory materials to other areas when it is removed before leaving the work area.

For this reason, it should not be used in:

  • Dining rooms and cafeterias.
  • Break rooms.
  • Administrative offices.
  • Libraries.
  • General restrooms.
  • Public transportation.
  • Stores and other common areas.

At NIH biological laboratories, lab coats must remain inside the laboratory and be removed before entering areas not intended for experimental work, such as cafeterias, libraries, and offices. NIH

For this measure to work, the laboratory must have a specific place to store clean lab coats and another system to collect used or contaminated garments.

Facilitate the removal of a contaminated garment

If a splash occurs on the lab coat, the outer garment can be removed following the laboratory's emergency procedure. This prevents continuing to work with the contaminating material on the body.

The ability to remove it quickly depends on its design. Snaps or fasteners must be able to open without complicated maneuvers, and the size must allow the garment to be removed without spreading contamination to the face, hands, or clothing worn underneath.

If liquid penetrates the lab coat and comes into contact with the skin, the emergency shower, eyewash station, or other equipment indicated for the type of exposure should be used immediately. The incident must then be reported, and the corresponding evaluation procedure followed.

How a lab coat should be used correctly

Correct use begins before handling the first sample or reagent and ends after removing the lab coat and performing hand hygiene.

Before starting work

Before putting on the lab coat, the procedure to be performed should be reviewed, and it should be confirmed that the assigned garment corresponds to the type of activity.

It is also advisable to check:

  • That it is clean and completely dry.
  • That it has no holes, tears, or open seams.
  • That buttons, snaps, or fasteners work correctly.
  • That the sleeves cover the arms without hindering movement.
  • That the size allows sitting, bending, and extending the arms.
  • That it can be used with gloves and eye protection.
  • That the pockets are empty and in good condition.

In Mexico, NOM-017-STPS-2024 establishes that protective equipment must be selected based on the analysis of risks present in the workstation and work area. When clothing requires specific characteristics to protect the worker, it must be incorporated into the PPE selection, use, and handling program. Official Gazette of the Federation

The lab coat must be put on before starting the procedure and not after opening samples or preparing reagents.

During the procedure

While working, the lab coat must remain properly closed. Leaving it open reduces front coverage and allows splashes to reach personal clothing.

During use:

  • Keep sleeves extended.
  • Do not roll up cuffs to expose forearms.
  • Do not store samples, tubes, or containers in pockets.
  • Do not place used gloves inside the lab coat.
  • Do not wipe hands or instruments on the fabric.
  • Do not use a personal phone with contaminated gloves.
  • Change the lab coat if it receives a significant splash.
  • Avoid touching your face, hair, or personal clothing.

Gloves should cover the cuff-sleeve junction when the procedure requires continuous hand and wrist protection. OSHA recommends keeping lab coats buttoned and placing gloves over the cuffs when working inside a biosafety cabinet. OSHA

Before leaving the laboratory

The lab coat must be removed in the designated place before leaving the laboratory. It should not be placed on chairs, desks, backpacks, or surfaces intended for personal items.

To remove it:

  1. Finish the procedure and secure samples and reagents.
  2. Remove gloves following the established technique.
  3. Perform hand hygiene if the procedure requires it before touching the fastener.
  4. Open the lab coat without unnecessarily touching its outer part.
  5. Remove it, preventing the outer surface from touching personal clothing.
  6. Place it on the assigned hook, container, or bag.
  7. Perform hand hygiene again.

Clean lab coats should not be stored with used garments. If the laboratory uses reusable lab coats for different people, it must have a clear system to identify which are available, which need washing, and which require decontamination.

What to do if the lab coat gets wet, contaminated, or torn

A wet, contaminated, or damaged lab coat must be taken out of use. Continuing to work allows the material to remain near the skin, transfer to other surfaces, or penetrate the fabric.

If it receives a small splash

Safely stop the procedure, remove the lab coat, and place it in the established container. Clean or decontaminate the work area following the protocol for the substance used.

If liquid penetrates the fabric

Immediately remove the garment and use the safety shower or appropriate emergency equipment. If there was eye contact, use the eyewash station for the time indicated by the laboratory procedure.

If contaminated with biological material

Do not shake, rinse, or transport the lab coat without containment. Place it in the bag or container designated for contaminated textiles. Reusable garments must undergo the defined decontamination procedure before washing.

If contaminated with a chemical product

Consult the safety data sheet and the laboratory protocol. Some products require a specific response and should not be treated with water, household detergents, or improvised methods.

If it has holes or open seams

Take it out of service. An opening in the sleeve, front, or a seam allows the substance to directly reach clothing or skin. The garment must be repaired by an authorized procedure or replaced.

The CDC and NIH BMBL manual states that the selection, removal, and treatment of laboratory clothing are part of containment measures, especially in activities involving biological agents. CDC/NIH

How it should be cleaned, decontaminated, or disposed of

The treatment method depends on the material that came into contact with the lab coat and whether the garment is reusable or disposable.

Lab coats used in general activities

If the lab coat has not been exposed to biological agents, hazardous substances, or materials requiring decontamination, it should be sent to the washing system indicated by the institution.

Washing should follow:

  • The manufacturer's label.
  • Laboratory instructions.
  • The allowed temperature for the fabric.
  • Limitations on detergents, chlorine, and drying.
  • The number of use cycles established for the garment.

Lab coats contaminated with biological material

Reusable garments must be decontaminated before washing when the protocol so establishes. They should not be sent directly to a general laundry or taken to the worker's home.

The bag or container must identify the type of material and prevent leaks during transport.

Lab coats contaminated with chemical substances

Not all substances can be removed by a wash cycle. A lab coat exposed to certain corrosive, toxic, reactive, or persistent products may require special management or disposal as hazardous waste.

The decision should be based on the safety data sheet, concentration, spilled quantity, and garment material.

Disposable lab coats

Lab coats designed for single use should be placed in the corresponding waste stream. They should not be stored for reuse or sent for home washing.

After removing any used lab coat, hand hygiene must be performed, and any surfaces that may have been contaminated during the process must be cleaned.

Do all lab coats offer the same protection?

No. Lab coats can have different materials, designs, and levels of coverage. The garment used in a simple school practice is not necessarily the same as what is needed to process biological samples, handle corrosive products, or work near a heat source.

Type of activity
Lab coat that can be used
What should be checked
Teaching and general activities
Institution-approved lab coat
Coverage, size, front closure, fabric condition, and lab rules.
Biological samples, blood, or fluids
Lab coat or garment designed for biological work
Front coverage, sleeves, cuffs, liquid resistance, and decontamination process.
Corrosive chemical substances
Garment compatible with the product; may require additional apron
Chemical compatibility, quantity handled, contact duration, and safety data sheet.
Flammable or pyrophoric materials
Flame-resistant lab coat selected for the activity
Performance against flame and heat, fabric composition, and melting risk.
Operations with high-volume splashes
Lab coat with greater coverage and, if applicable, additional apron or protection
Volume, pressure, splash direction, and torso, arm, and leg coverage.

The NIH guide for selecting lab coats differentiates between biological, chemical, and fire risks. It also recommends reviewing not only the fabric, but also the seams, fasteners, cuffs, coverage, and cleaning instructions. National Institutes of Health

General or teaching activities

For low-risk practices, a traditional lab coat approved by the school or laboratory can be used. It should cover the torso and arms, remain closed, and be used with the indicated footwear, gloves, and eye protection.

The fact that a practice is academic does not eliminate the need to review reagents, heat sources, and instructor instructions.

Working with biological samples

When handling cultures, blood, fluids, or clinical samples, the lab coat must be integrated into the laboratory's containment procedure.

Attention should be paid to:

  • Front coverage.
  • The connection between cuffs and gloves.
  • The possibility of splashes.
  • The decontamination method.
  • The location where the garment is removed.
  • Separation between clean and used garments.

Working with chemical substances

Selection must be based on the product being handled. A lab coat that works correctly with an aqueous solution may react differently to a concentrated acid, an organic solvent, or a corrosive material.

The safety data sheet allows identification of the recommended equipment and the measures that must be applied in case of spill or contact.

For operations with higher volume or risk of splashing, it may be necessary to add a chemical apron, face shield, and compatible gloves.

Working with flammable materials or heat sources

When using open flames, flammable liquids, or pyrophoric materials, a flame-resistant lab coat must be selected.

Some synthetic fibers can melt when heated and adhere to the skin. For this reason, a lab coat should not be chosen solely because it is thick, comfortable, or easy to wash.

In addition to the garment, the lab must control ignition sources, quantities used, storage, and fire response procedures.

What safety measures a lab coat does not replace

The lab coat covers the body, but lab safety depends on several measures working together.

Its use does not replace:

  • The chemical fume hood.
  • The biological safety cabinet.
  • Gloves compatible with the material.
  • Safety glasses or goggles.
  • The face shield when there is a risk of facial splash.
  • The indicated respiratory protection.
  • Closed-toe shoes.
  • Cleaning and decontamination procedures.
  • Training to respond to spills and exposures.
  • Proper identification and labeling of samples and reagents.

OSHA states that chemical hygiene plans must include work procedures, engineering controls, PPE use criteria, training, and specific measures for particularly hazardous substances. OSHA

For example, a lab coat does not prevent the inhalation of vapors produced by a solvent. This exposure is controlled by an adequate fume hood, correct procedure, and, when appropriate, respiratory protection.

Similarly, a lab coat does not completely protect the eyes or face from a splash. For this exposure, eye or face protection is needed.

Conclusion: the lab coat works when used correctly

The lab coat serves to cover personal clothing and part of the skin, reduce contact with small splashes, and facilitate the removal of an outer layer when contamination occurs.

It also helps prevent biological or chemical residues from leaving the laboratory, provided it is removed before entering common areas and placed in the appropriate cleaning, decontamination, or disposal system.

Its correct use begins with a clean, dry, closed, and well-maintained garment. During work, sleeves must remain extended, and pockets should not be used to store samples, tubes, used gloves, or substances.

If the lab coat gets wet, torn, or contaminated, it must be removed and handled according to laboratory procedure. Garments exposed to biological material or hazardous substances should not be taken home for common washing.

The function of the lab coat is completed with gloves, eye protection, containment equipment, hand hygiene, and well-defined work procedures. In biosafety, wearing the lab coat correctly is a specific part of a broader practice: keeping exposure under control from the beginning of the procedure until leaving the laboratory.

Sources consulted

  • NOM-017-STPS-2024, Personal protective equipment: selection, use and handling in workplaces — Official Gazette of the Federation
  • Guidance for the Selection of Laboratory Coats — National Institutes of Health
  • Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Sixth Edition — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Institutes of Health
  • Biological Safety Manual for BSL-2 Laboratories — National Institutes of Health
  • Laboratory Safety Guidance — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Laboratory Safety: Biosafety Cabinets — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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