Clinical scrubs are one of the most purchased items in any healthcare facility’s procurement programme — yet they are among the most under-specified. The right scrub fabric, composition, and design has meaningful implications for infection control, staff comfort, professional image, and long-term procurement cost. This guide walks healthcare procurement professionals through the key decisions involved in specifying and sourcing clinical scrubs at scale.
Fabric Composition
The most common scrub fabrics are 65/35 polyester-cotton twill (durable, affordable, maintains shape), 55/45 poly-cotton (softer, slightly more breathable), and 100% polyester performance fabrics (fastest drying, highest durability, best for high-intensity clinical environments). Anti-microbial treated fabrics with silver-ion or Sanitized® technology should be specified for high-risk clinical areas including ICU, ITU, theatres, and infectious disease units.
Colour Coding for Clinical Grade Identification
Most NHS Trusts and large private hospital groups operate a colour-coded scrub programme to enable instant visual identification of clinical role and grade. Procurement teams should specify their full colour programme in advance — Cambay Industries can supply all colours from a single source with consistent dye lots across multiple orders.
Size Range and Fit
Clinical staff welfare requires a full size range from XXS to 4XL with structured fit options (traditional relaxed fit, fitted/tailored cut, and maternity adaptations). Undersized ranges lead to comfort issues and staff dissatisfaction. Cambay Industries supplies a full size matrix with detailed grading specifications for both male and female fits.
Published by Cambay Industries — specialists in premium textiles and nuts processing since 1970.
