Press Releases

The surgical gown passes the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Level 4 requirements

DUBLIN, Ohio, May 6, 2009 — Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, today announced that its SmartGown™ has been proven the only breathable, fully impervious surgical gown to pass the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Level 4 requirements.

In recent independent tests conducted in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/AAMI Standard PB70:2003, results confirmed that other breathable surgical gowns that claim to be fully impervious provide only AAMI level 3 protection. Only the Cardinal Health SmartGown™ passed AAMI Level 4 requirements in both gown fabric and construction in all four critical zones.

The Cardinal Health SmartGown™ offers full protection with advanced wicking technology to keep clinicians cool and comfortable. SmartGown’s RESPONSIVEMEMBRANE™ wicks excess moisture from the surface of the skin, transporting it to the surface of the fabric, where it evaporates quickly. This technology allows the body to cool naturally while maintaining complete protection.

“For procedures requiring AAMI Level 4 protection, the SmartGown™ is essential because of its proven protection and breathability,” said Caroline Gullion, product manager, surgical apparel at Cardinal Health. “SmartGown™ offers a fully impervious barrier to guard against the risk of liquid and viral penetration, and its Active Moisture Management™ keeps clinicians cool and comfortable through the most challenging procedures.”

This AAMI Standard establishes a classification system and associated minimal requirements for protective apparel based on resistance to strike through of blood and fluids. The standards address four levels of barrier protection – ranging from Level 1, which is the lowest level of protection, to Level 4, which is the highest level. Gowns with a Level 1 classification offer minimal protection with no significant moisture or liquid barrier protection, while gowns with a Level 4 classification are considered fully impervious and provide an absolute barrier to liquids as defined in ASTM F1671.

The classification of the entire surgical gown is based on the lowest level of protection within any of its critical zones.

According to AAMI PB70:2003 testing requirements, gowns must meet requirements in four critical zones, including body fabric, sleeve fabric, body construction and sleeve construction, to attain a Level 4 classification. Critical zones are those where direct contact with blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious material are most likely to occur.

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion, global company serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients.  With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris^® IV pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, MedMined™ electronic infection surveillance service and VIASYS^® respiratory care products.  The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide.  Ranked No. 18 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents.  More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com.