Laboratory Technician Uniforms: Scrubs, Lab Coats and Colour Coding

Most laboratories and diagnostic centres dress technicians in scrubs as the base uniform and add a lab coat or protective gown over the top when the work calls for it. The practical decisions are which fabric and fit suit long hours at the bench, how to colour code lab staff against phlebotomy, radiology and front desk, and how to keep lab coats and scrubs separate in the laundry. Personal protective equipment for hazardous work is a separate decision, governed by your lab's own safety rules.

This guide is for lab managers, quality officers and operations staff at hospital laboratories, standalone diagnostic centres, blood collection points and research or teaching labs in the UAE.

What lab technicians typically wear

A lab uniform usually has three layers, each with a different job.

Layer	What it is	Main purpose
Base uniform	Scrub top and trousers	Identification, comfort, a clean professional look
Lab coat	Long-sleeved coat, often white or coloured	Covers clothing at the bench; easy to remove when leaving the lab
PPE	Gowns, gloves, eye protection and more, as your safety assessment requires	Protection from specific hazards

Scrubs and lab coats are uniform garments. They are not certified PPE, and they should not be treated as a substitute for protective equipment your lab's risk assessment specifies. Your biosafety officer or quality manager decides what PPE each area needs; the uniform supplier provides the garments underneath.

For a wider comparison of the two main garments, see our guide on lab coat vs scrubs. This post focuses on how to set up the uniform for a lab team.

Scrubs for the bench

Fit and comfort

Lab work involves long periods seated or standing at a bench, reaching across equipment and walking between rooms. Technicians tend to value:

• A trim but not tight fit, so sleeves and hems don't catch on equipment
• Shorter, hip-length tops that sit neatly under a lab coat without bunching
• Elastic or drawstring waists for comfort when seated for long periods
• Straight-leg trousers, which many prefer under a knee-length coat; jogger styles suit staff who move around more

Fabric

Labs are often kept cool, so warmth matters more than in many clinical areas. Staff also commute in the heat, so the fabric needs to handle both.

• Poly-cotton is hard-wearing, takes frequent hot washing and suits a uniform that is laundered centrally.
• Polyester-viscose-elastane stretch is softer and moves well, which suits staff who reach and bend a lot.

Some fabrics are available with antimicrobial or fluid-repellent finishes. If you consider these, ask the supplier for test documentation and be clear that a finish does not turn scrubs into PPE. Our post on fluid resistant scrubs explains what those finishes can and can't do.

Pockets

Lab technicians usually need fewer pockets than nurses because most tools stay at the bench. A chest pocket for a pen and marker is useful. Large hip or cargo pockets are less important if staff wear a lab coat with its own pockets on top.

Lab coats over scrubs

Length and closure

Knee-length coats give more coverage at the bench. Hip-length coats are lighter and suit reception or sample-receiving areas. Many labs prefer press-stud or snap closures because they open quickly; ask your safety team which they want.

Colour

White lab coats are traditional, but some labs use coloured coats to separate areas. For example, a different coat colour can mark staff who work in a particular lab section, so it is obvious when a coat has left its area. Agree any such rule with your quality and safety team, then build the uniform order around it.

Keeping them separate

Lab coats are often kept in the lab and laundered separately from scrubs. Embroidered size and role labels, or a name on the coat, make sorting easier when garments come back from the laundry.

Colour coding a diagnostic centre

Diagnostic centres often have several roles in one building, and patients move between them. A simple colour scheme helps patients find the right person and helps managers see coverage at a glance.

A typical scheme

Role	Possible base colour	Notes
Laboratory technicians and technologists	Grey or navy	Lab coat on top at the bench
Phlebotomy and sample collection	Ceil blue or teal	Most patient contact; name embroidery helpful
Radiology and imaging staff	Wine or black	Often in cooler rooms; consider a scrub jacket
Reception and patient services	A brand colour or smart tunic	See front-desk options
Supervisors	Same colour as team, different trim or embroidered role	Avoid adding a whole new colour

These are examples, not a standard. Choose colours that fit your brand and don't clash with any hospital you share a building with. Our guide to scrub colour coding by role covers how to roll a scheme out across several sites.

Colour and stains

Labs deal with reagents, stains and dyes that can mark fabric. Mid and dark shades such as navy, grey and wine hide marks better than very pale colours. If a top is likely to be stained regularly, a darker base colour plus a lab coat on top is usually the most practical combination.

Branding and identification

• Logo: the centre's logo on the left chest of scrub tops and lab coats.
• Names and roles: embroidered names help patients at collection points. Adding a role line such as "Laboratory Technologist" or "Phlebotomist" reduces confusion.
• Bilingual names: many centres serve both Arabic and English speakers. Bilingual embroidery is possible; agree spellings with staff before production.
• Laundry labels: size and role labels inside the garment speed up sorting.

Our logo embroidery page explains how logos are digitised and stitched.

Ordering for a lab or diagnostic centre

1. List every role and area, including part-time and weekend staff.
2. Confirm safety requirements with your quality or biosafety lead so the uniform doesn't conflict with PPE rules.
3. Choose colours and garments for each role: scrubs only, scrubs plus lab coat, or tunic.
4. Collect sizes with a fitting session if possible.
5. Decide sets per person. Allow enough sets so staff always have a clean one while others are in the wash.
6. Approve a sample with the logo and name embroidered, then wash it a few times before signing off.
7. Place the order with a size breakdown per role.
8. Keep a spec sheet with colours, fabric and embroidery positions for reorders and new hires.

Reorders and new staff

Labs often hire on rolling contracts and add staff when they open new collection points. Approve a sample once and keep that specification on record, so reorders for new joiners match. Plan top-ups in batches with shipping time in mind, and agree minimum quantities in advance.

Checklist for lab managers

• Uniform agreed with quality and biosafety leads
• PPE requirements kept separate from uniform choices
• Base scrub colour chosen for each role
• Lab coat length, colour and closure agreed
• Fabric suits cold labs and frequent washing
• Logo and name embroidery positions confirmed
• Laundry labels for sorting coats and scrubs
• Sample worn and washed before bulk order
• Spec sheet saved for reorders

Getting a quotation

MISHAREN makes scrubs and lab coats to order at its own unit in Konni, Kerala, India, in your chosen colours, fabric and size breakdown, with logos and names embroidered before delivery. If you are setting up uniforms for a lab or diagnostic centre, share your staff list and roles through our contact page or see the options on the medical scrubs page.