Gurtler R&D: Transforming Typical Healthcare Garments into PPE

Gurtler Industries Inc., South Holland, IL, recently announced that the company’s research-and-development (R&D) team has developed a new laundry method utilizing Pulse Shield fluid repellent fabric finish, which can transform typical healthcare scrubs and clothing into fluid repellent garments, increasing their potential use as personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a news release.

The current healthcare crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the healthcare community to a point where there is a significant shortage of PPE including but not limited to face masks, isolation gowns, gloves, face shields and more. The shortage of appropriate healthcare PPE has become a major issue. Plus, a general lack of disposable isolation gowns and protective coverings has further deepened the healthcare community’s concern.

Gurtler’s Pulse Shield is a fluid-repellent finish that can be applied in the laundry process. Normally used to extend the useful life of surgical gowns and textiles, Gurtler’s research team has demonstrated a method to transform normally non-repellent healthcare wear into fluid-repellent protective garments. The research, supported by multiple evaluations using accepted AATCC fluid-repellent test methodology, was performed using typical healthcare wear, including 100% polyester scrubs, blended cotton/poly scrubs and patient gowns, and 100% polyester laboratory coats, the release said.

The laundering and treatment method developed by Gurtler scientists produces garments that pass all the tests for fluid (water and oil-based) repellency with excellent performance after multiple washings. The full research study is posted on the Gurtler website at www.gurtler.com/in-the-news/.