Medical-grade gloves are a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many professional environments. Though most often used in healthcare settings, disposable medical gloves are also necessary for caregivers, food handlers, dentists and other professionals. Wherever health and sanitation are top concerns, protective gloves are essential. They help stop the spread of germs and viruses, promoting the safety of both employees and those they serve.
Click here to get more.
If you need disposable gloves for your professional environment, choosing the best possible kind of glove is critical. You’ll need to understand the difference between various disposable glove types. Not all gloves are the same — different materials, strength levels and other features lend themselves to distinct purposes. Below, we’ll discuss the 10 most important considerations for stocking up on gloves.
Only some disposable gloves qualify as medical gloves. To fit the medical-grade description, disposable gloves must meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quality assurance guidelines. These guidelines ensure all gloves used in medical settings are durable and reliable, not flimsy or brittle. For patient examinations, gloves must have an acceptable quality level (AQL) no higher than 2.5. That rating means no more than 2.5% of the gloves in a batch can have defects. These gloves are non-sterile — sterile gloves must have an even lower AQL measure.
Manufacturers have to keep up with stringent testing measures to achieve a score of 2.5 or lower. Gloves with an AQL higher than 4 or 5 are only acceptable for mechanical or industrial purposes. Rigorous AQL standards require glove manufacturers to employ uncompromising quality control. The AQL scoring guide helps ensure gloves used for medical purposes are without defects. Tears or other lapses in quality could leave healthcare professionals and their patients vulnerable to pathogens or other contaminants.
Depending on your application, you’ll have to decide on an acceptable AQL rating. You may be able to find industry standards, but if not, opt for lower AQL numbers for the best quality disposable gloves. Keep in mind, doctors use gloves with AQL scores of 2.5 or lower during patient examinations. A similar score would likely suffice for your environment unless you need them for surgical purposes.
Disposable gloves with an acceptable AQL rating come in a variety of materials. One of the first things you should consider is your glove material preference. Different glove materials are useful for different purposes, so it’s a good idea to learn about the available options before making a bulk purchase.
Nitrile gloves are one of the best alternatives to latex gloves, offering a longer average shelf life. Standard nitrile gloves are an ideal non-sterile option. A powder-free, latex-free nitrile glove is resistant to chemicals, oils and acids. Nitrile’s strength makes these gloves tough and helps them stay puncture-free, even when worn for extended periods. If latex allergies are an issue, nitrile gloves offer a flexible, touch-sensitive alternative. You can buy bulk orders of nitrile gloves in a variety of colors and sizes.
Latex is a comfortable, inexpensive glove option suitable for most medical environments. They’ve been a staple of many healthcare facilities since the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic of the s. With that said, latex allergies are common. There’s a high likelihood someone in your organization or someone you serve will have a latex allergy. If you’re purchasing gloves for widespread use, you might consider a material less likely to cause allergic reactions, such as nitrile or vinyl. Latex also has a short shelf life compared to other materials.
Another option is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) glove. PVC is a common synthetic plastic polymer. Since they’re easy to mass-produce, these gloves are one of the least expensive options. They’re also less durable than other glove types, and they offer limited hazard protection. For that reason, PVC gloves are best suited for low-hazard applications. In some cases, a nitrile-vinyl blend glove may be the best choice for affordability and durability.
For most applications, one of the above-listed materials will suffice. Here are a few other material choices you might consider for latex-free medical gloves:
For a glove to have a “sterile” rating, it must meet strict FDA guidelines. Sterile medical gloves are acceptable for surgical purposes, so they must have the best possible AQL ratings. Sterile gloves must have an acceptable quality level of 1.5 or lower. As mentioned above, examination gloves can have an AQL as high as 2.5, so sterile gloves can be considered even safer. Because their manufacture requires strict testing, sterile gloves may have a higher price.
Though the term “non-sterile” may sound concerning, non-sterile gloves with an AQL of 2.5 or lower are acceptable for any non-surgical purposes. Using non-sterile gloves in non-surgical settings is safe and reduces the risk of disease transmission. Most healthcare workers use non-sterile gloves for patient examination purposes.
Non-sterile gloves work well for other applications, as well. If you’re looking for disposable gloves for routine cleaning, food service, caregiving or other purposes, non-sterile gloves should be fine. It’s vital to decide on an acceptable AQL rating for your purposes.
You may come across powdered and non-powdered glove options. Powdered gloves feature cornstarch coatings, which makes them easier to put on and prevents them from sticking together. Though this can improve convenience, the FDA has banned powdered gloves for surgery and patient examination purposes.
According to the FDA, the risks of powdered gloves in medical settings outweigh the benefits. The powder can cling to the wearer’s skin, causing irritation, inflammation or allergic reactions. It can also cause surgical complications involving peritoneal adhesions, which are a type of bond between a person’s organs. Though the ban does not yet extend to food service applications, loose cornstarch from powdered gloves may cause food contamination. In most instances, a non-powdered glove is a preferable choice.
You should also consider glove thickness. Thicker gloves provide a stronger protective barrier. They also better resist tears, allowing for a longer wear time. A heavy-duty, industrial-grade glove will offer more thickness than a lighter, thinner glove.
With that said, a thicker glove may dull touch sensitivity, which isn’t ideal in certain settings. If your application requires a high level of touch sensitivity, you might opt for thinner gloves made from a durable material, such as nitrile. When browsing glove options, look for thickness measurements in mils.
Certain situations call for a high level of tactile or touch sensitivity. For instance, a surgeon needs unimpaired touch sensitivity to perform surgery with the necessary precision and accuracy. Tactile-sensitive gloves made of a lightweight material will allow for precision levels similar to an ungloved hand. Sensitivity may also be necessary for a number of applications, including food preparation, electronic handling and pharmaceuticals.
You should also consider glove comfort and fit, including various size options. Depending on your application, your staff may need to wear gloves while performing complex tasks. They may also need to wear their gloves for extended periods. It’s vital to choose comfortable gloves — an uncomfortable glove may hinder someone’s ability to perform their necessary responsibilities.
Size options are an essential consideration. If a glove is too small, it may cause irritability or limit blood circulation to the wearer’s hand, making the fit distracting and uncomfortable. A too-small glove is more likely to tear, as well, compromising its protective barrier.
If a glove is too large, other concerns may arise. Loose space between the glove and the wearer’s skin may leave the wearer vulnerable to pathogens. A glove that’s too big is also likely to fall off, causing a significant contamination concern. When buying gloves, be sure to acquire several sizes, at least small, medium and large.
Tensile strength refers to a material’s resistance to breaking when stretched or pulled. Gloves with higher tensile strength ratings are more tear-resistant. Nitrile and latex are both materials with high tensile strength ratings — you can tug and pull on them quite a bit before they’ll start to tear. Since a tear would compromise a glove’s protection, tensile strength is essential. It’s an important measurement to acknowledge, especially for applications requiring hand dexterity.
Though you may not think twice about glove color, it can make a notable difference. You may choose to color code your gloves so staff can easily differentiate between various glove types. For instance, you might choose blue for latex gloves and black for non-latex gloves, so those with a latex allergy will have no trouble selecting the non-latex gloves. If you need both sterile and non-sterile gloves, color coding could again be useful.
Certain glove colors also make tears more apparent. If you wear a dark-colored glove on top of a light-colored glove, tears will be easy to identify. You can then change gloves as soon as possible after a tear, minimizing contamination risks.
You may wonder whether or not double-gloving offers more protection than wearing a single glove. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), double-gloving is an effective way to protect the wearer from pathogens and other harmful substances. They found that while glove perforations were common, there were no instances of inner double-glove perforation. The NIH recommends double-gloving as a routine practice for operating rooms.
Standardizing double-gloving may help you promote your staff’s safety and wellbeing. Should you choose to do so, you may need to store greater quantities of gloves. It’s a good idea to order gloves in bulk amounts for this purpose.
The final factor you should consider is a glove’s shelf life. Buying disposable gloves in bulk will ensure you always have gloves available when needed — but it may also mean some gloves sit unused for extended periods. A glove’s shelf life depends most on its material. Nitrile gloves last longer than any other material. You should always check the manufacturer’s guidelines, but most nitrile gloves will last in their original packaging for several years.
In most cases, it’s easy to tell if a glove is compromised. A compromised glove may have surface cracks or feel brittle to the touch. Always wear gloves with normal tensile strength and durability, and keep careful track of how long your gloves have sat on the shelf.
Proper storage can help make gloves last longer. For short or long-term glove storage, you should keep gloves:
When deciding where to store your gloves, opt for a cool, dark environment. In most cases, a shelf in a secluded closet will do fine. Proper storage will help you extend your gloves’ shelf life, saving you time and money long-term and minimizing waste.
Hongray supply professional and honest service.
Choosing the right gloves for your application can make your environment safer, healthier and more productive. When shopping for new disposable gloves, consider several factors — the material, AQL, durability, comfort, dexterity, color and additional features. Each of these factors is significant. Once you’ve chosen the right gloves for you, be sure to purchase as many as you may need and follow best storage practices.
Natural rubber latex gloves, often simply referred to as latex gloves, offer good resistance towards acids and alkalis.* However, they are permeable to many solvents. Due to their outstanding elongation, latex gloves are very comfortable to wear and traditionally provide optimal fit and feel. One main disadvantage is that natural latex proteins can cause or trigger natural rubber latex allergies.
Nitrile gloves are made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), a synthetic material. They can be used as an alternative glove choice for people suffering from an allergy to natural rubber latex. A significant advantage is the improved resistance towards many chemicals* as well as oils.
Vinyl gloves are a cost-efficient alternative when mechanical stress and barrier protection are less of a factor. Their skin-friendly material is suitable for users suffering from latex or chemical allergies. A disadvantage is that the use of plasticizers as the key component in the production of vinyl gloves excludes their use in handling of lipids and fatty foods. Furthermore, the comfort of wearing vinyl gloves is less compared to nitrile or latex gloves, mainly a result of the limited elasticity of vinyl.
* CAUTION: Before gloves are used in contact with chemicals, please consult the chemical resistance lists, which can be found here. Failure to observe this information can result in personal injury and/or material damage. In case of doubt obtain expert advice before use.
Material
The most commonly used raw materials in the production of disposable gloves are natural rubber latex (NR gloves), polyisoprene latex (IR gloves), nitrile butadiene rubber latex (NBR gloves) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC gloves).
Size & shape
Disposable examination and protective gloves are usually available in various sizes ranging from XS to XL and can be equally worn on the left or on the right hand (ambidextrous shape). In contrast, surgical gloves are anatomically shaped (specifically for the left or right hand) and offered in a larger variety of sizes.
Texture
Gloves are offered in several different textures, from smooth to fingertip or fully textured varieties depending on the application. Our surgical gloves come with a micro-rough surface.
Inner treatment
Disposable gloves can either be powdered or powder-free. Powdered gloves offer the advantage of easier donning even with moist hands. In general, powder-free natural rubber gloves are more skin tolerable as they contain fewer chemical residues and water-soluble proteins thanks to the manufacturing process. Potential irritations are also minimised due to the absence of powder. For powder-free gloves, special manufacturing processes such as synthetic inner coating or chlorination facilitate easier donning.
Colour
Disposable gloves come in various colours depending on colour preference or any required usage recommendation (e.g. blue colour for HACCP compliance for use in the food industry).
Sterility
Non-sterile gloves are mainly used for hygienic purposes or for self-protection, whereas sterile gloves are used for sterile procedures in hospitals or laboratories, where a contamination of patients and/or handled materials must be avoided.
A latex allergy can be prevented by using gloves which are free from natural rubber latex, such as nitrile or PVC, chloroprene of synthetic polyisoprene gloves, or by using powder-free latex gloves with a reduced protein concentration. If natural rubber gloves are used be sure to use only powder free gloves featuring a low protein level.
Often underestimated, but important and a basic point to prevent an allergy is consistent skin care. Hands should be dried properly after washing, not only before donning. The use of lotions prevents the skin from dehydrating and helps to keep the protective function of the glove.
Powder-free gloves undergo an intensive leaching and washing process in order to ensure that the leachable protein level is as low as possible. However, for technical reasons it is not possible to remove latex proteins exhaustively – and as such the potential risk for sensitised users and patients. Consequently, as part of risk control measures for any glove made from natural rubber it must be clearly indicated on the primary packaging that the glove contains natural rubber latex, and an additional warning must be included that the product may lead to allergic reactions. According to EN 455-3, the lowest protein level that a manufacturer is allowed to claim is 50 µg/g. This is due to systematic uncertainties in the protein quantification.
The two relevant regulatory pillars for disposable gloves in Europe are the Medical Device Regulation EU /745 ("MDR") and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation (EU) /425 ("PPER"). The former refers to the protection of healthcare professionals and patients, the latter to the protection of PPE users.
Medical devices are categorized into different classes depending on the range of risk involved for the patient. Relevant classes for disposable gloves are:
The basic standard for single-use medical gloves is the EN 455 series, which defines the requirements for freedom from holes, physical properties, dimensions, test methods for biological evaluation, labelling requirements and especially also requirements concerning the expiry date.
Medical Device Regulation EU /745, replacing Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC), has come into force on 26 May . All market participants must meet the new requirements.
PPEs are divided into three different categories depending on the risk against which they are intended to provide protection:
For gloves labelled as PPE the basic standard is EN (which superseded EN 420). This norm defines the general requirements for protective gloves, e.g., the contents of the information for users, the safety of the glove material as well as the characteristics of the product (e.g., length, size, etc.). For chemical protection gloves, additionally EN ISO 374-series applies. This standard defines the specific requirements like penetration (movement of chemicals through material defects), chemical permeation (movement of chemicals through the glove film), degradation (deterioration of the glove material), and viral penetration.
Permeation describes the process in which a chemical diffuses and moves through intact glove material. It is usually indicated by the breakthrough time, meaning the time it takes a chemical to move completely through the material. Chemical permeation is normally tested according to EN -1. For more stringent test requirements (e.g., when testing the permeation of chemotherapy drugs or other high-risk substances like fentanyl), the applicable test standard is ASTM D. Due to the increasing demand for chemical protective gloves, more attention is being paid to their resistance to various chemicals. We have imposed a requirement on our products to carry out chemical permeation tests on an ongoing basis in order to permanently control the quality of the gloves. The standard requires to specify these results in levels (defined in EN ISO 374-1). We pass on these levels to our customers by means of the permeation lists that are published annually. Read more about our specifications here.
Read more
The perceived high quality of a glove is often associated with higher weight, which is not necessarily true. Innovative formulations and well-optimised processes allow the production of high-quality, lower weight gloves. Such gloves can be produced with very low wall thickness (which allows a high tactile sense) while still surpassing normative safety requirements.
To reduce costs, some manufacturers use fillers which tend to be heavier than the polymers used in the glove. The moderate use of filler is common in the glove industry and does not have a negative impact on glove properties, whereas the excessive use of fillers deteriorates a glove’s quality.In addition, further factors affecting glove quality include the quality of raw materials used, specific formulations, manufacturing process and quality inspection system.
Gloves that are suitable for food contact can be identified by the glass and fork symbol, which is subject to specific EU regulations that govern articles intended to come into contact with food.
The framework regulation EC / lays down the general requirements for all materials and articles (e.g., gloves) intended to come into contact with food. Platstic materials, such as vinyl, are subject to the EU regulation 10/, which determines specific requirements for products containing vinyl that may come into contact with food. Latex and nitrile products however are only regulated on a national level, e.g., in Germany upon the recommendation of materials for food contact of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) or in France by the law “Arrêté du 8 Août .
Glove selection should be based on the nature and potential hazard of the substances dealt with as well as the type of exposure. Thin disposable gloves are designed for incidental contact with chemicals, providing good barrier and basic chemical protection combined with good tactility and wearing comfort. In general, a higher thickness correlates with higher breakthrough times – but this is only valid for the same material. Nitrile gloves are usually preferred over disposable latex and vinyl gloves because of their enhanced chemical resistance.
IMPORTANT: If in doubt, please contact the glove manufacturer and ask for assistance in selecting the most appropriate glove.
We are always happy to help you decide which gloves fit your needs. Simply contact us via sempermed@harpsglobal.com.
For information about the chemical resistance of our gloves visit the chemical resistance page.
Visit page
Chemotherapy drugs are highly toxic and are increasingly used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. Appropriate hand protection against chemotherapy drug exposure is vital, which is why gloves should be selected in accordance with the specific type of chemical used. Using a nitrile examination glove may be a viable alternative for the handling of cytotoxic drugs, whereas a surgical glove made of natural rubber latex or synthetic polyisoprene latex is recommended for the preparation of chemotherapy drugs. In any case, gloves using ASTM D- to test for resistance against chemotherapy drugs should be chosen. Gloves should always be checked for damage before use. Moreover, double donning is generally recommended to increase protection.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Medical Gloves Wholesale.