Folding and wrapping surgery gowns

SOP Description
Packing surgical gowns
Job Level (Who should be able to perform the task)
Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary Assistants
Special Skills Needed
Attention to detail
Approximate Time Needed
5 minutes
Equipment and Supplies MSDS Required YES NO
Surgical wrap *
Surgical towel *
Surgical gown *
Indicator tape
Masking tape *
Indicator strip *
Black sharpie *

Instructions (step-by-step)

1. Ensure that all cloth materials being used have been laundered and lint rolled prior to folding and packing for sterilization.
2. Using a clean table, lay out the gown so that the outside of the gown is facing up and the inside of the gown is touching the table.
3. Cross over the sleeves of the gown across the front of the gown so that the wrists are crossing over each other.
4. Fold each lateral edge of the gown toward the crossed over wrists so that the inside of the armpits are exposed. Be sure to flatten the gown and remove as any wrinkles while you are folding the gown.
5. Tuck in any lose strings toward the center of the gown.
6. Fold the lateral edges to midline then fold on that midline so the two lateral edges are laying on top of each other.
7. Accordion fold the gown from hem to neck and position so the neck is on top of the accordion.
8. Place a steri strip on top of the gown (this is different than shown in the video, but the expected method).
9. Accordion fold one hand towel hotdog style, then hamburger style as shown in the video.
10. Dog ear the top of your hand towel.
11. Place your folded hand towel on top of your folded gown and set aside.
12. Lay out your surgical wrap so it appears as a diamond (a point facing you, a point directly away from you, and two lateral points) and place your folded gown and hand towel in the center.
13. ***Only wrap once** Do not double wrap surgical gowns, this is different than the instructions in the video
14. Fold the 6 o’clock corner across the gown/towel pile and turn back the point so the point is facing you. Do the same things with the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock corners, pulling tight at each corner.
15. Tuck the last 12 o’clock corner into the little envelope that has been made, keeping the point sticking out.
16. Apply a long strip of masking tape over the open edge of the pack and put a courtesy tab on each end of the tape. This is different from the video, where we used a long strip of indicator tape – instead just use a 1-2 inch piece of indicator tape because it is more expensive than regular masking tape.
17. Label pack with the date of autoclaving, the initials of the wrapper, and as an “Sx Gown (list size as well). Be sure to use black marker only, other colors bleed onto the wraps.

Person responsible for additional questions or information
Angie or Michelle