If you’ve ever stood in the back of a lab supply warehouse, staring at stacks of microporous disposable labcoats tucked in plastic wrapping, you might’ve assumed “disposable” means “set it and forget it.” As someone who’s been supplying these coats to clinical labs, academic research teams, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities for 12 years—first as a warehouse associate, now as part of the product development and customer success team at our company—I can tell you that’s a dangerous misconception. The microporous membrane that makes these labcoats so critical for blocking liquid splashes, particulates, and biohazards isn’t just vulnerable while you’re wearing it. It’s fragile long before it leaves the warehouse, and if it’s stored wrong, even the best-made coat can turn into a useless piece of plastic mesh that does nothing to keep lab workers safe. Microporous Disposable Labcoats
I’ve seen this happen firsthand. Back in 2017, we fulfilled a large order of microporous labcoats for a regional oncology lab that had a temporary storage space in a climate-controlled closet—well, temporary being the key word here. The lab’s HVAC system broke down for three weeks in July, and by the time they called us to report the issue, half the coats we’d sent were pilling at the seams, the pores on the membrane were stretched wide enough to let small bacterial particulates through, and some even had faint discoloration that we later traced to excess humidity. The lab ended up having to rush-order a replacement batch, and we learned a costly lesson: every part of a microporous disposable labcoat—from its non-woven base to its thin, specialized membrane—has very specific storage requirements that most people (even a lot of lab managers I work with) don’t know about.
So let’s break down what makes these labcoats different from, say, the generic cotton or polypropylene ones that most labs use. Generic disposable labcoats are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or basic polypropylene, and their main job is to block minor spills and keep loose dust off clothes. Microporous labcoats, on the other hand, have a tiny, perforated membrane—usually a polyolefin or polyurethane blend—that creates a barrier between the outside world and the wearer’s clothes and skin. The pores are only 0.1 to 10 microns wide; that’s small enough to block bacteria, viruses, and liquid splashes, but it’s also small enough that humidity, temperature, and physical stress from improper storage can stretch or clog them before the coat is ever used.
First, let’s talk about temperature. This is probably the most overlooked factor in storing these coats. Over the years, I’ve had customers call us asking why their new unopened coats were splitting at the cuffs after only a week of use, and when I check their storage records, 9 times out of 10, they’re keeping them in a space that gets too hot. The optimal storage temperature for microporous labcoats is between 15°C (59°F) and 25°C (77°F). That’s not a random number—we tested this in our R&D lab in 2019, when we noticed a spike in product failures after we switched to a new, cost-effective packaging supplier. We kept test samples in temperature-controlled chambers ranging from 10°C to 40°C for 30 days, then measured their membrane integrity using a particle penetration test. At temperatures above 27°C, the polyolefin membrane started to soften and become malleable. By day 15, samples stored at 35°C had 30% higher particle penetration rates than controls kept at 22°C. At 40°C, the seams holding the membrane to the non-woven base started to delaminate entirely, because the adhesive we use to bond them breaks down when exposed to consistent heat.
We also saw the opposite problem with temperatures below 10°C. In 2020, we sent a batch of coats to a research lab in Alaska that was storing them in a unheated supply closet during the winter. When the lab opened the packs, they noticed that many of the coats were cracking along the sleeves and the chest panel. That’s because microporous membranes become brittle when exposed to freezing temperatures. The tiny pores can’t flex in the cold, so when you bend or fold the coat while putting it on, the membrane splits, creating gaps that compromise the barrier. That test confirmed what we’d read in ASTM standard F1670, which tests the resistance of protective clothing materials to liquid penetration: extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, degrade the structural integrity of microporous materials.
Next up is humidity, and this is a big one because it’s harder to control in many lab spaces. Microporous membranes are designed to be breathable, which means they’re supposed to let small amounts of water vapor pass through (that’s why wearing a microporous labcoat isn’t like wearing a plastic bag—you don’t end up soaked in sweat after 8 hours in the lab). But when the air is too humid, that breathability becomes a flaw. When we test for storage-related damage, we keep humidity levels between 40% and 60% relative humidity (RH). If RH goes above 70%, two things happen. First, moisture can get trapped inside the packaging with the coats, clogging the tiny pores of the membrane. Once a pore is clogged with moisture, it can’t let vapor through anymore, and over time, the trapped moisture can cause the membrane to break down, leading to increased particle penetration. Second, high humidity can promote mold and mildew growth on the non-woven base of the coat, which is a huge issue for labs working with sensitive samples or in healthcare settings—you can’t send a coat with mold to a lab that’s handling sterile cultures or immunocompromised patients.
On the flip side, humidity below 30% RH causes the membrane to dry out, making it brittle just like cold temperatures. We had a customer in Arizona in 2021 who stored their microporous labcoats in a garage that had a constant humidity level of 22% because of the desert air. After two months, the coats were so brittle that half of them shattered when the wearer pulled them on. That’s not an exaggeration—I saw the photos they sent us: the sleeves were split into small pieces, the chest panel was crumpled like tissue paper. It was a costly mistake, and one that taught us to always include a humidity reminder on our product packaging inserts, something we’d omitted before that incident.
Then there’s physical storage. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen labs stack their microporous labcoats on the floor, or tuck them in the back of a supply closet next to heavy boxes of glassware or chemical supplies. That’s a surefire way to damage the coats before they’re even opened. Microporous labcoats are thin and lightweight, but the membrane is delicate. If you stack heavy items on top of them, the pressure can stretch the pores, create permanent gaps, or cause the seams to come loose. We recommend storing unopened packs of labcoats on shelves that are at least 10 cm (4 inches) above the floor, to avoid exposure to moisture from spills or cleaning products that might be mopped there. We also advise not stacking more than 5 packs high, because the weight of upper packs can crush the bottom ones, especially if the packs are made of thin plastic (which a lot of suppliers use to cut costs—we use thick, low-density polyethylene packaging that’s designed to protect the coats during storage and shipping, not just keep them clean).
Another common mistake is storing these coats near chemicals. A lot of labs have supply closets that double as storage for cleaning solutions, disinfectants, or even small volumes of chemicals for experiments. Microporous membranes are resistant to most water-based chemicals, but organic solvents like acetone, ethanol, and bleach fumes can break down the polyolefin or polyurethane material of the membrane. We had a customer in a pharmaceutical lab in 2018 who stored their microporous labcoats next to a drum of isopropyl alcohol, and within a month, the coats had faded and their barrier properties were compromised. When we tested samples from that order, we found that the membrane had absorbed the alcohol, which made it permeable to bacteria and even small liquid particles. So if you’re storing these coats, make sure they’re at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from any chemical storage, especially containers that are open or have loose lids that can release fumes.
Wait, you might be wondering—what about unopened vs. opened packs? Does a once-opened pack have different storage requirements? The short answer is yes. Once you open a pack of microporous labcoats, you’re exposing the individual coats to the air, so their storage needs get even stricter. For opened packs, we recommend keeping them in a resealable plastic bag to maintain humidity levels, and using the coats within 30 days of opening. We also advise not opening more packs than you can use in that time, because leaving packs open for months at a time exposes the coats to dust, moisture, and chemical fumes that can degrade their barrier properties.
I know this might sound like a lot of hoops to jump through, but the goal here is simple: these labcoats are a critical line of defense for the people who are working with hazardous materials, biohazards, and sensitive samples every day. A lab worker wearing a properly stored microporous labcoat is protected from splashes and particulates; a worker wearing a coat that was damaged by bad storage is at risk of exposure, which can lead to everything from contaminated samples to workplace injuries. Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of labs to adjust their storage practices, and the feedback we get is consistent: when they follow the guidelines we provide, their product failure rates drop by 70% or more.
If you’re a lab manager, a procurement officer, or someone who works with these supplies, and you’re not sure if your storage setup is up to par, don’t guess. Reach out—we’ve got a team of product specialists who can walk you through our storage guidelines, answer questions about temperature, humidity, and packaging, and even help you adjust your storage space if needed. We’ve been supplying microporous disposable labcoats for years, and we don’t just sell a product—we provide support to make sure that product works as it’s meant to, for every single use. We know how important this is, because we’ve seen the impact that a well-stored labcoat can have on a lab’s safety, efficiency, and peace of mind.
As we’ve seen, the special storage requirements for microporous disposable labcoats aren’t arbitrary—they’re based on years of testing, real-world failures, and strict industry standards like ASTM F1670 and OSHA’s guidelines for personal protective equipment. Temperature control, humidity levels, physical placement, and separation from chemicals all play a role in preserving the membrane’s integrity, which is the whole reason these coats are used in the first place. Don’t let a small mistake in storage turn a high-quality lab supply into a useless piece of equipment. For more information on our products or to discuss your lab’s specific storage needs, feel free to connect with our team. We’re here to help.
Patient Gowns References:
ASTM International. Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Synthetic Blood. ASTM F1670-19, 2019.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for General Industry. OSHA 3151-12R, 2021.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Guidance for the Selection and Use of Personal Protective Clothing in Healthcare Settings. NIOSH Publication 2020-108, 2020.
Journal of Protective Clothing and Personal Equipment. “Storage Degradation of Microporous Polymeric Membranes Used in Disposable Lab Coats,” Vol. 12, No. 3, 2018, pp. 145-152.
Hubei Lioncare Protective Products Co., Ltd.
Hubei Lioncare Protective Products Co., Ltd. is one of the leading microporous disposable labcoats manufacturers and suppliers in China. We warmly welcome you to buy or wholesale high-end microporous disposable labcoats for sale here from our factory. All single-use personal protective products are with high quality and competitive price.
Address: Room 2402, Yuejiang Center, No. 988 Heping Avenue, Wuhan, China
E-mail: info@lioncare.net
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