Medical Plastic Bags
As a common material for medical plastic bags, low density polyethylene bags are clear and therefore used when visibility simplifies inventory, though high density plastics are sometimes used for waste management or for the privacy of patients. It is exceedingly important that bags in the medical industry be sterile, resistant to rupture even if dropped, waterproof, non-toxic and sealable. Such poly bags are used for a number of vital tasks such as medicine transfer and delivery, narcotics return, blood receptacles, biohazard or utensil containment, waste liners, personal item storage and protection equipment. Quality is of utmost importance with regards for the above mentioned applications of plastic bags as contamination could have potentially deadly consequences. Reliable hermetic seals are found along one seam of many bags, though other medical bags are designed with special valves to which intravenous tubing or other medical devices may be attached without opening.
Blown film extrusion is most often used to create baggies, though sheet extrusion, winding and casting may also be used. After extrusion and before cutting and sealing, many medical plastic bags are printed on, providing permanent labeling. Labels ensure safe and secure identification of bag contents. Bags may be purchased with pre-printed labels and warnings on them for fast and efficient use in emergency and operating rooms as well as clear demarcations to reduce the potential dangers of mislabeling or misreading. Stock labels such as "STAT" or "BIOHAZARD" are among the most commonly used. Alternatively, variable use bags are printed not with labels, but with clear or opaque surfaces on which to write specific instructions or tags. Marker Color coding is also commonly used to identify medical bags based on content. Once printed, bags can remain open with a post-use seal applied or sealed with adhesives, permanent tape or zippered mechanisms. Labels, color coding and seals are vastly important as medical baggies are commonly used in such varied applications as equipment, garment, bedding and materials storage and protection in a sanitary state. As use and design vary, it is important to consider the size, width, strength, durability and overall quality of each bag with regards for the specific use.
