3M Micropore Paper Surgical Tape — Gentle Everyday Tape
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3M Micropore Paper Surgical Tape — Gentle Everyday Tape, Minimal Residue, White & Tan, 7 Sizes
The most widely used general-purpose medical paper tape — economical, breathable, and gentle enough for sensitive and at-risk skin with minimal adhesive residue at every removal. 3M Micropore Paper Surgical Tape is a lightweight, highly conformable, porous paper tape that has been the clinical standard for everyday wound dressing securement, blood draw gauze fixation, and lightweight device securement for decades. Its gentle adhesive provides good initial and reliable 72-hour adhesion to skin without the skin stripping, adhesive residue buildup, and irritation that stronger surgical tapes cause on sensitive, fragile, or frequently-retaped skin. The porous paper construction is highly breathable — allowing normal moisture vapor and gas exchange under the tape, reducing maceration and skin breakdown during extended wear. Tears easily by hand. Conforms and molds to body contours and irregular surfaces. Available in white (1530 series) and tan (1533 series) in multiple widths, plus single-patient-use rolls for infection control.
✔ Gentle Adhesive — Minimal Residue, Reduces Irritation on Sensitive & At-Risk Skin ✔ Highly Breathable Porous Paper — Moisture Vapor Exchange, Reduces Maceration ✔ Tears Easily by Hand — No Scissors Required ✔ Good 72-Hour Adhesion — Reliable Hold for Everyday Clinical Applications ✔ Available White & Tan — Hypoallergenic & Latex-Free
Product Details
| Manufacturer | Solventum (Formerly 3M) |
|---|---|
| Product | Micropore Paper Surgical Tape — 1530 Series (White) and 1533 Series (Tan) |
| Available Sizes | 7 roll configurations — see size guide below |
| Tape Material | Porous paper — highly breathable, conformable, lightweight |
| Adhesive | Gentle pressure-sensitive acrylate — minimal residue on removal, reduces irritation risk |
| Colors | White (1530 series) and Tan (1533 series) |
| Hold Duration | Good initial and 72-hour adhesion to skin |
| Breathability | Highly breathable porous paper — moisture vapor and gas exchange throughout wear |
| Tearing | Hand-tear — no scissors required |
| Microbial Barrier | No — porous construction does not provide a bacterial or viral barrier |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes — reduces risk of allergic reaction, suitable for sensitive skin |
| Latex | Not made with natural rubber latex |
| Sterility | Non-sterile |
Clinical Applications
- Blood draws and venipuncture — securing gauze or cotton ball after draw
- Lightweight wound dressing securement on sensitive or frequently-changed dressings
- Secondary securement of IV lines and non-critical tubes
- Securing dressings on at-risk skin where repeated taping causes irritation with stronger tapes
- Pediatric and elderly patients — gentle adhesive appropriate for fragile skin
- Oncology patients — minimal residue and gentle removal for chemotherapy skin sensitivity
- Ostomy pouch and appliance securement to periostomal skin
- Splint and cast edge padding and securement
- General purpose everyday clinical and home wound care taping
- Any application where a breathable, gentle, minimal-residue tape is the clinical priority
Note: Micropore is a breathable porous paper tape — it does not provide a bacterial or viral barrier and is not indicated for applications requiring sealed wound protection. For applications requiring a stronger hold or conformable stretch, consider Medipore H (2860 series). For critical tube securement requiring maximum hold, consider Durapore (1538 series).
How It Works — Gentle Paper Tape for Everyday Clinical Use
The clinical value of Micropore tape is not in its adhesive strength — it is in what its adhesive does not do. The gentle pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive provides reliable daily dressing securement while leaving minimal residue on removal, generating minimal epidermal stripping, and causing minimal skin sensitization even on repeated daily applications over extended periods. For patients who require wound dressing changes daily or multiple times daily — pressure ulcer patients, wound care clinic patients, post-surgical recovery patients — the cumulative trauma of tape removal over weeks of treatment can cause periwound skin breakdown that becomes its own clinical problem. Micropore's gentle adhesive specifically addresses this by minimizing the adhesive-skin interaction at each removal. The porous paper backing is highly breathable — far more so than cloth or film tapes — reducing the moisture accumulation under the tape that leads to skin maceration. The lightweight paper conforms softly to body contours without the edge pressure that stiffer tapes create.
- Gentle adhesive — reliable hold with minimal skin stripping and minimal residue at removal
- Reduces cumulative tape trauma on skin requiring repeated daily applications
- Highly breathable porous paper — reduces moisture accumulation and maceration under tape
- Conformable paper backing — molds softly to body contours without edge pressure
- Good 72-hour adhesion — reliable for standard dressing change intervals
- Tears cleanly by hand — convenient in all clinical settings
- Economical — cost-effective for high-volume everyday clinical use
- Available in white or tan for skin tone matching preferences
- Single-patient-use rolls available — reduces cross-contamination risk
3M Medical Tape Comparison — Choosing the Right Tape
| Tape | Material | Strength | Stretch | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micropore | Porous paper | Gentle — minimal residue | None | Sensitive skin, frequent changes, blood draws, everyday lightweight securement |
| Medipore H | Non-woven soft cloth | Strong — gentle on repeat | Bi-directional | At-risk skin, swelling sites, dressing securement, IV and catheter sites |
| Durapore | Silk-like woven cloth | Highest — 72-hr critical hold | No-stretch | ET tubes, NG tubes, catheters, bulky dressings, splints |
Choosing the Right Size
| Item # | Color | Width x Length | Rolls/Box | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1530-0 | White | ½" x 10 yd | 24/box | Narrowest — blood draws, IV gauze, small wound edge fixation. Highest count per box. |
| 1530-1 | White | 1" x 10 yd | 12/box | Standard width — most widely used size for general dressing securement and everyday wound care taping |
| 1530-2 | White | 2" x 10 yd | 6/box | Medium — broader dressing edges, securing larger pads and non-adherent dressings |
| 1530-3 | White | 3" x 10 yd | 4/box | Wide — large wound dressing coverage, securing bulky dressings and abdominal pads |
| 1533-0 | Tan | ½" x 10 yd | 24/box | Tan narrow — skin tone match preference for blood draws and small wound applications |
| 1533-1 | Tan | 1" x 10 yd | 12/box | Standard tan — skin tone match preference for general dressing securement and daily wound care |
| 1533-2 | Tan | 2" x 10 yd | 6/box | Wide tan — broader tan coverage for larger dressing applications |
Also Available: Single-patient-use rolls — 1530S-1 (1" x 1.5 yd, 100/box) and 1530S-2 (2" x 1.5 yd, 50/box) — for infection control protocols in multi-patient clinical settings. Micropore S (2770S-1) is also available — a silicone adhesive version for the most fragile skin. Ask our team about availability.
Not sure which tape is right for your application? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST
Why Buy From Medical Department Store?
- 30+ years serving home medical, wound care, and clinical supply customers
- 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor's price
- Medical supply specialists on the phone — not a call center
- Ships to all 50 states — 5 Southwest Florida locations for local pickup
- Full-service medical supply store — Home Medical Equipment, Mobility, Respiratory & Beds
Questions about 3M Micropore or any of our medical tapes? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.
