Iodoform gauze is a type of sterile gauze that is treated with iodoform, an antiseptic. The gauze is commonly used to pack wounds and facilitate wound draining. Yards of iodoform gauze can come packaged in a bottle, and it needs to be carefully removed using sterile implements. Certain procedures should also be observed to maintain the iodoform gauze's integrity.

This type of gauze can be used to pack sinus or nasal areas. It can also help to pack the wounds associated with the removal of abscesses, boils, fistulas and similar tunneling wounds. The gauze allows for the draining of these types of wounds. For drainage purposes, a wound can be packed and not stitched, so that drainage can occur unimpeded.

Careful handling of iodoform gauze is necessary to protect its sterile properties. Sterile gloves, forceps and scissors should be used for proper handling. Medical professionals who want to use the gauze usually put on gloves, open the bottle containing the gauze, reach inside the bottle with forceps to retrieve an end of the gauze, pull it out and then cut the gauze with scissors. A bit of gauze can be left on the outside of the bottle to simplify future gauze cuttings.

To pack iodoform gauze, medical professionals use a cotton-tipped applicator to gently ease the gauze into a wound. The gauze is carefully folded into the wound, rather than shoved into the cavity. This can ensure that the wound is filled with an appropriate amount of gauze.

After packing a wound, medical professionals can leave about 1 inch (2.54 cm) of gauze outside of the wound. This remaining piece of gauze might be taped down against the skin. The purpose of leaving a piece of gauze outside the wound is so that the gauze can be easily removed later. Those who need to remove the gauze can do so by simply pulling on the piece of gauze until the rest of the connected gauze slips out of the wound. Removal and repacking of gauze can take place once a day.

Should a wound need to be repacked with fresh gauze, a medical professional can simply pull more gauze out of the bottle. There will a tab left outside of the bottle, so a non-sterile hand can pull fresh gauze out. Sterile scissors, however, will have to be used to cut the gauze free from the bottle. Another cut will be necessary on the end that the medical professional is holding to remove the part of the gauze strip that has been handled with a non-sterile hand.