Nitrile gloves came to prominence in the 1990s as a leading latex alternative. Vinyl gloves have also raised a red flag in terms of their environmental impact, as noted by Health & Safety International.ĭue to their low cost and low protection levels, vinyl gloves are commonly used in non-hazardous and low-infection environments. When vinyl gloves are stretched or flexed, the individual molecules separate and the integrity of the protective barrier is compromised.
That being said, they are less durable than latex and nitrile, and they offer limited protection against chemical or biomedical exposure. The primary benefit of vinyl disposable gloves is that they’re inexpensive to manufacture. Vinyl gloves are made from PVC, a petroleum-based film. With high levels of flexibility, protection, and comfort, disposable latex gloves are suitable for most medical environments - as long as latex allergies are not an issue. For those who aren’t allergic, latex gloves are comfortable, relatively cost-effective, and offer a high degree of touch sensitivity. This led to more demand for latex-free disposable glove alternatives, like nitrile and vinyl. But as their popularity increased, so did cases of allergic reactions. This is because, as noted by Darwin Brown in Physician Assistant, latex gloves were recommended protection in the 1980s and 1990s against bloodborne pathogens like HIV. Latex Glovesįor decades, latex has been the rockstar of the medical disposable glove world. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes these gloves different from each other, as well as offer guidance into which environments each type is best suited for. And if you order the wrong type of glove for your practice, you may end up wasting resources and increasing the risk of punctures, rips, and tears.ĭisposable gloves are generally made from one of three materials: Nitrile, Latex, or Vinyl. While this shouldn’t come as a surprise, what you might not have realized is that disposable gloves aren’t all created equal.ĭifferent materials and design choices make certain products better suited for different medical environments. They not only protect healthcare providers and patients from exposure to potentially dangerous microbes, they also help set a precedent of hygiene and care across the industry. Exam gloves are offered in a wide array of color and sizes.Disposable gloves are an essential item in any healthcare environment. Aside from material, other properties to consider when selecting an exam glove include thickness (mil), finish, tensile strength, elasticity, texture, and aloe inner coating. Exam gloves are generally non-sterile as they are not intended for medical procedures, and are typically packaged in bags or dispenser boxes for easy access. Nitrile, a durable synthetic rubber with no latex protein content, is tear- and chemical-resistant and a frequent choice for exam gloves. Latex allergies, fairly common among many glove users, has prompted the use of non-latex glove materials. Some examples of exam glove eligibility testing include puncture, abrasion, tension, elongation, and chemical substance resistance. In some cases, additional testing is done to ensure protection when blood, bodily fluids, and biological hazards like bacteria or viruses may be present.
Exam gloves are regulated by the USFDA as “Class I reserved medical devices” that require a 510(k) premarket notification. The key difference between these two types of gloves is USFDA certification, which includes required safety testing, product performance testing, and claims substantiation data. Constructed from a variety of materials including latex, nitrile, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, and other polymers, exam gloves and general-purpose industrial gloves are both single-use gloves and are physically very similar. Exam gloves are designed to protect against incidental rather than intentional contact with chemicals. They can also be used in some laboratory environments for protection against corrosives, liquids, and gases. Exam gloves (single use) are designed for use in clinical, medical, and healthcare settings for protection against infection, illness, and chemotherapy agents.
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