In Star Trek: TNG, why was Crusher’s labcoat blue?

Question

Labcoats are traditionally white, the better to show spills and stains, minimize interactions with dyes, etc. more traditionally worn were dust jackets, which allowed chemists to wear a jacket which would hide stains (ah, we chemists do have such a wonderful attitude to safety...).

In the last few years, blue labcoats have been on the rise. These are polymer-based but non-flammable and hard wearing. However, these are used in chemical laboratories, not hospitals.

Is there an in-universe explanation for why a medical doctor (who would be potentially exposed to all sorts of hazards) would wear a lab jacket which would potentially hide stains?

Answer 1

I never heard this mentioned during any episode, but here goes.

This blue tone was the uniform colour code for science/medical. As casual a military organization as Star Fleet may be, members still have to follow rules and decorum.

Perhaps more significantly, I would surmise that Dr. Crusher would toss a used coat into the replicator every shift, or a dozen times a shift, with barely a second thought. The slightest suspicion she may have hazardous materials or stains would see the coat away into the recycling hopper. She would then order up a fresh, clean one in a matter-creation twinkle and her day continues.

There is also a more speculative train of thought concerning the Enterprise's sick bay technology. We saw them using "sterilization fields" which precluded the use of masks and other protective garments we use today. I think the odds likely the sick bay is awash in such fields and sophisticated sensor fields to keep track of pathogens and toxic stains (and alerting the staff if the automation couldn't deal with said contamination).