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Transparent tape is a name used for two different products: clear office tape, and medical transparent tape, a perforated plastic tape used to secure lines, tubing and light dressings to skin. This page covers the medical product. Office clear tape is a stationery product; the US regulatory definition below turns on intended medical purpose.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: clinic and hospital staff and buyers who need to tell it apart from paper tape and film dressings.
What medical transparent tape is
Medical transparent tape is a plastic tape with an adhesive on one side that lets the skin underneath stay visible. In the US, medical adhesive tape is defined in 21 CFR 880.5240 as a device intended for medical purposes that consists of a strip of fabric material or plastic, coated on one side with an adhesive. The regulation says it is used to cover and protect wounds, hold together the skin edges of a wound, support an injured part of the body, or secure objects to the skin. It is Class I (general controls) and exempt from premarket notification (510(k)), subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 880.9.
Solventum (formerly 3M) describes its Transpore surgical tape as “transparent, perforated plastic tape that tears easily.” Its listed uses are blood draws, lightweight dressings, secondary securement of IV lines and tubing, and non-critical tubes.
How it is built
For the Transpore line, the manufacturer lists the material as plastic and states that the tape is not made with natural rubber latex. The tape is porous (breathable), perforated for a straight, bi-directional hand tear that can be done with gloves on, and transparent so the site stays visible. The manufacturer describes good initial and long-term adhesion to dry skin for up to 72 hours.
Types and related products
| Product | Typical use | Key difference, as stated by the manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| Transpore transparent plastic tape | General securement: blood draws, light dressings, secondary securement of IV lines and tubing | Transparent, perforated and porous |
| Micropore S surgical tape (277X series) | Solventum names it as its multi-purpose class tape | A separate Solventum product line, not the transparent plastic tape |
For the wider tape family, see our guide to medical tape. Transparent tape is also different from a transparent film dressing, which is a dressing rather than a securement tape; see IV dressings, wound dressings and gauze.
Transparent tape sizes
These are the catalog sizes of one manufacturer line (3M/Solventum Transpore). They are not universal; other brands and distributors list other widths and lengths.
| Catalog no. | Width x length | Packaging |
|---|---|---|
| 1527-0 | 1/2 in (1.25 cm) x 10 yd (9.1 m) | 24 rolls/carton, 10 cartons/case |
| 1527-1 | 1 in (2.5 cm) x 10 yd (9.1 m) | 12 rolls/carton, 10 cartons/case |
| 1527-2 | 2 in (5 cm) x 10 yd (9.1 m) | 6 rolls/carton, 10 cartons/case |
| 1527-3 | 3 in (7.6 cm) x 10 yd (9.1 m) | 4 rolls/box |
| 1527S-1 | 1 in (2.5 cm) x 1 1/2 yd (1.37 m) | Single-patient roll, 100/box |
| 1527S-2 | 2 in (5 cm) x 1 1/2 yd (1.37 m) | Single-patient roll, 50/box |
How to choose
The manufacturer offers short single-patient rolls (1527S-1 and 1527S-2) alongside the 10-yard rolls. Which width or length suits a given line or site belongs to the product instructions and facility policy, not to this page.
Handling basics
- The manufacturer states the tape should be applied without pulling or stretching, because stretching can cause tension blisters.
- The short 1527S rolls are sold as single-patient rolls; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the specific product in hand.
Common mistakes
- Treating office clear tape as medical tape. The regulation defines a medical adhesive tape by its intended medical purpose (21 CFR 880.5240), not by appearance.
- Stretching the tape tight when applying it, which the manufacturer links to tension blisters.
- Assuming every distributor’s roll length matches the manufacturer’s catalog; check the listing for the exact product.
FAQ
What is transparent tape in medicine?
It is a perforated, transparent plastic tape with adhesive on one side, used for general securement such as lightweight dressings and secondary securement of IV lines and tubing.
What are the sizes of transparent tape?
In the Solventum Transpore line, widths run from 1/2 in to 3 in on 10-yard rolls, plus 1-in and 2-in single-patient rolls of 1 1/2 yards. See the table above; other brands differ.
Is medical transparent tape latex-free?
The manufacturer states that the Transpore tape material is a plastic tape not made with natural rubber latex.
How is medical tape regulated?
In the US, medical adhesive tape is a Class I device under 21 CFR 880.5240, exempt from 510(k) premarket notification subject to 21 CFR 880.9.
Sources
- Solventum, Transpore Surgical Tape product page, https://solventum.com/en-us/home/f/B10105967, checked 2026-10-30.
- eCFR, 21 CFR 880.5240, Medical adhesive tape and adhesive bandage, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-880.5240, checked 2026-10-30.
