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Short answer
Scrub fabric is whatever fiber or fiber blend the garment maker chose, and the place to find out is the garment’s fiber-content label. Under the US Federal Trade Commission’s textile labeling rules, natural and man-made fibers must be named by their generic names, in descending order of weight. Scrub suits are also excluded from the FDA’s surgical apparel device identification, so a fabric description is not a barrier rating.
What scrub fabric is, and what it is not regulated as
“Scrub fabric” is the textile a scrub top or trouser is cut from. It is not a single material. Two separate US rules shape what you can learn about it:
- Fiber labeling (FTC). The FTC’s textile labeling guidance states that both natural and man-made fibers must be identified by their generic names, and that fiber names and weight percentages are listed in descending order of predominance.
- Device classification (FDA). 21 CFR 878.4040 defines surgical apparel as devices worn by operating-room personnel during surgical procedures, with caps, hoods, masks, gowns and shoe covers as examples. The identification states that “surgical suits and dresses, commonly known as scrub suits, are excluded.” That is a statement about the scope of this device identification, not a statement that scrubs are unregulated. Surgical gowns and surgical masks are Class II (special controls); other surgical apparel is Class I (general controls).
The practical consequence: gown barrier performance is a different product class from scrub fabric. See what a surgical gown is for that class, and what a lab coat is for the bench-protection garment.
What scrubs are made of: fibers and blends
Because the legal requirement is to name the fibers rather than to use particular ones, scrub material varies by manufacturer and product line. The label on the garment is the authoritative description of a given item. Three points from the FTC guidance explain how to read it:
- Fibers are listed in descending order of predominance, so the first fiber named is the largest share by weight.
- A fiber is generally named only if it makes up 5% or more of the fiber weight; smaller amounts are grouped as “other fiber(s)”. Wool is the exception to this rule.
- Names are generic fiber names, not trade or brand names.
Care instructions are a separate label under a different FTC rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 423, so the fiber-content label alone does not tell you how a garment should be laundered.
Reading the fiber-content label: a checklist
| Check | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber names | Generic names are required for natural and man-made fibers | FTC textile labeling guidance |
| Order | Descending order of predominance by weight | FTC textile labeling guidance |
| Small fibers | Generally only fibers at 5% or more of fiber weight are named; the rest appear as “other fiber(s)” | FTC textile labeling guidance |
| Care | Care labeling is a separate rule (16 C.F.R. Part 423) | FTC textile labeling guidance |
| Regulatory class | Scrub suits are excluded from the surgical apparel identification in 21 CFR 878.4040 | eCFR |
Fabric and laundering
Fiber content matters most when a facility decides how to launder uniforms. The CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (laundry and bedding section) make these points:
- Hot-water washing at a temperature of at least 160°F (71°C) for a minimum of 25 minutes is commonly recommended. This is a recommendation for facility laundries, not a home-laundry rule.
- Low-temperature wash cycles rely heavily on chlorine- or oxygen-activated bleach. Chlorine bleach activates at 135-145°F (57.2-62.7°C) and is not suitable for all fabrics.
- Dryer temperatures and cycle times are dictated by the materials in the fabrics. Man-made fibers, including polyester and polyester blends, require shorter times and lower temperatures.
- Heat in drying, and especially ironing, adds significant microbiocidal action.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
For staff who specify or manage uniforms, the sourced points above reduce to a short list of questions:
- Does the fiber-content label name the fibers, and in what order, so the composition can be compared between products?
- Do the care instructions fit the wash and dryer settings the laundry actually uses? The CDC notes dryer settings depend on the fabric, and that bleach is not suitable for all fabrics.
- Is the garment being treated as a scrub suit, which sits outside the surgical apparel identification, or is a gown or other surgical apparel what the task requires? Barrier standards for gowns apply to gowns, not to scrub fabric.
- Who launders it? The CDC says uniforms not contaminated with blood or body substances presumably do not differ appreciably from street clothes, notes that experts are divided on transporting workplace clothing, and advises that facilities requiring uniforms make provisions to launder them or give employees cleaning information.
For the cost and compliance side of choosing between reusable and disposable garments, see reusable vs disposable scrubs and coveralls.
Common misunderstandings
- “Scrub fabric has a standard composition.” The rules described above require fibers to be named, not a particular composition. The label is the record of what a specific garment contains.
- “Scrubs are unregulated.” Scrub suits are excluded from the 21 CFR 878.4040 device identification, but fiber labeling and care labeling rules still apply to textile products.
- “A listed fiber is the whole story.” A fiber below 5% by weight may not be named at all.
- “Hot-water laundering is required for any scrub.” The 160°F (71°C) for 25 minutes figure is the CDC’s commonly recommended hot-water wash for health-care facility laundry.
FAQ
What are scrubs made of?
They are made of the fibers or fiber blends each manufacturer selects. The garment’s fiber-content label lists them by generic name in descending order of weight, naming fibers that make up 5% or more of the fiber weight.
What is scrub material?
Scrub material is the textile used for scrub tops and trousers. It is not defined by one regulation: scrub suits are excluded from the FDA surgical apparel device identification, and the FTC labeling rules govern how the fiber content is stated.
Do polyester blend scrubs need different drying?
The CDC states that man-made fibers, including polyester and polyester blends, require shorter times and lower temperatures in the dryer than other materials, because dryer settings are dictated by the fabric.
Sources
- FTC, Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements Under the Textile and Wool Acts, checked 2026-10-30.
- eCFR, 21 CFR 878.4040 Surgical apparel, checked 2026-10-30.
- CDC, Laundry and Bedding, Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003; page dated January 8, 2024), checked 2026-10-30.
This page gives general product information, not medical or legal advice.
