The OT dress: what it is and how it's worn

In Kerala hospitals, “OT dress” is the everyday name for the uniform worn inside the operation theatre. Nursing students hear it in their first OT posting; new staff are handed one on their first day in theatre. Yet few people explain what it actually is, or how it differs from the scrubs worn on the wards.

Here is a plain explanation.

What an OT dress includes

A standard OT dress is a two-piece set plus a cap:

• Top: a simple pull-over top, usually V-neck, with few or no pockets.
• Pant: a straight pant with a drawstring waist.
• Cap: a scrub cap to keep hair covered and tidy.

Masks, sterile gowns, gloves, shoe covers and other protective equipment are added on top according to the theatre’s procedures. The OT dress is the base layer underneath all of that.

Why it is usually green

Most OT dresses in India are green, though some theatres use blue. Green is restful to the eyes under bright theatre lights and against red tissue, and it makes the theatre team easy to recognise. Many hospitals keep a separate OT colour so that theatre clothing is never confused with ward scrubs.

How it differs from ward scrubs

	Ward scrubs	OT dress
Colour	Navy, teal, wine, ceil blue, grey and others	Usually plain green or blue
Pockets	Several, for pens and tools	Few, often just one chest pocket
Where worn	Wards, OPD, labs, clinics	Inside the theatre complex
Cut	Shaped or unisex	Usually unisex, simple

Fewer pockets is deliberate. Theatre staff carry little, and a simple garment is easier to change into quickly.

Our OT green set

Our OT green surgical scrub set is plain green with a V-neck top and one chest pocket, and a drawstring pant. It is unisex, in sizes XS to 3XL, made from poly-cotton plain weave.

It is important to be clear about what it is: a reusable woven uniform. It is not certified surgical PPE and does not replace the sterile gowns and protective equipment your theatre requires. Other OT colours are available only for institution or bulk orders.

A matching tie-back scrub cap in OT green completes the set.

How it should fit

In theatre you stand for long hours, reach across trolleys and sometimes wear a gown over everything. So:

• Not tight. A sterile gown goes over the top; the OT dress needs to sit flat underneath without pulling.
• Not baggy either. Excess fabric bunches under a gown and can catch.
• Drawstring secure. Tie it firmly; nobody wants to adjust a waistband with sterile hands.
• Hem clear of the floor. The pant should end at the ankle, not drag.

Because it is unisex, size by your chest for the top and check the hip and length for the pant on the size chart. If you are between two sizes, choose the larger one.

How it is worn day to day

Every hospital has its own theatre routine, so follow your hospital’s uniform and infection-control policy. In general:

• Change into the OT dress in the theatre changing room, not at home.
• Do not wear it outside the theatre area unless your hospital allows it with a cover.
• Change it if it becomes soiled or wet.
• Send used OT dresses to the hospital laundry or wash them as your hospital directs.

Wrapping up

The OT dress is a simple, plain uniform that forms the base layer in theatre. It should fit cleanly under a gown, be easy to change into and be kept for theatre use only. If you need one for your posting or your work, see the OT green scrub set and order your size on WhatsApp.