Buyers Guide for Disposable Gloves

Disposable gloves are single use gloves designed to protect the wearer from a range of potentially hazardous situations. They are regularly used in medical facilities to reduce the risk of contaminating the wearers hands with blood and body fluids and to prevent cross contamination between the worker and the patient. They are also used to prevent contamination in food handling environments, in laboratories, by beauticians, tattooists, cleaners, the manufacturing industry and more.

When choosing disposable gloves, barrier protection is one of the most important considerations. Additional factors to also consider are strength, durability, elasticity, fit, level of comfort, resistance to punctures and chemicals and the possibility of allergens. Another equally important consideration is assessing the industry relevant standards the glove has been tested to.

In this buyers’ guide for disposable gloves, we outline the features of the most common materials used in their manufacture (latex, nitrile, vinyl) and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each material type.

POWDER FREE VS POWDERED DISPOSABLE GLOVES

Powdered gloves

Powdered gloves offer a cost-effective option for easy donning. The preferred powder is USP food grade cornstarch. This is applied to the inside of the glove to make it easier to put the glove on and take it off.

However, research has shown that when powdered latex gloves are put on and removed, the airborne powder can carry latex allergens that sensitise some people via inhalation. This risk can be reduced by choosing latex gloves with minimal glove powder, switching to a latex powder free option or using a latex free glove such as nitrile.

Powder free gloves

Powder free gloves are available polymer coated or chlorinated. Both options provide a disposable glove that is easy to put on and take off without the use of powder. Polymer coated gloves have a smooth lining applied to the inner glove surface, making it easier to put the glove on. An added benefit of this smooth inner lining is the barrier it provides between the glove material and the wearer’s hand. A drawback of polymer coated latex gloves is that they can contain a high level of latex protein, a known allergen. Chlorinated gloves have been dipped in a dilute chlorine solution, which produces a slippery glove surface. One of the advantages of chlorinated latex gloves is their reduced levels of latex allergens due to the extra washing cycles required during the chlorination process.

LATEX GLOVES

Latex gloves are one of the most common disposable gloves used. Their high tensile strength makes them strong and durable, providing excellent barrier protection for the user. Their high elasticity ensures that they fit the hand like a second skin providing comfort and fit for the wearer. The latex material reduces finger fatigue and provides a high level of tactile sensitivity, making these gloves ideal for use in areas that require a fine sense of touch.

Latex gloves are available powder free and powdered.

Fine Touch Disposables Latex Gloves

Fine Touch supplies low powdered (food grade cornstarch) and powder free chlorinated latex gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are latex gloves made of?

Latex gloves are made from natural rubber latex (NRL) sourced from rubber trees. The liquid latex is mixed with chemicals to produce a glove that has high tensile strength and elasticity. If a coloured latex glove is required, dyes will also be added.

What is a latex allergy?

Latex gloves can produce an allergic reaction in some people. The most common reaction is irritant contact dermatitis, which is a skin reaction that leaves a red itchy rash and can happen even if the user does not have a latex allergy.

The worst reaction a person can have to latex is an IgE-mediated latex allergy, which affects the immune system and can be life threatening. Once a person has had this type of reaction, they must use a latex free glove and avoid all forms of latex in their environment.

What is the powder in latex gloves?

The most commonly used powder is USP food grade cornstarch.

How to put on latex gloves easily – video

NITRILE GLOVES

Nitrile gloves are latex free and a good alternative for people who are allergic to latex or those who want to avoid latex in their environment. They exhibit excellent resistance to many chemicals, are extremely strong and their puncture resistance is superior to latex and vinyl, making them ideal for situations where a high level of strength and/or chemical resistance are required. However, it is advisable to always check that the nitrile glove chosen is appropriate for the chemicals being used.

Nitrile gloves are flexible and fit the contours of the wearer’s hand, although their elasticity is generally not as high as latex.

While it is usually accepted that the use of nitrile gloves produces few allergies, some do contain curing agents used during the manufacturing process that may affect some people.

The ability of nitrile to fail dramatically once its barrier has been compromised, makes these disposable gloves ideal in situations where high levels of protection are required.

Nitrile gloves are available powder free and powdered.

Fine Touch Disposables Nitrile Gloves

Fine Touch supplies powder free chlorinated nitrile gloves in cobalt blue (2.2mil), blue (3.2mil), long cuff in blue (4.5mil) and black (5mil). This range of thickness, from 2.2mil to 5mil, provides options when considering the strength and durability of a glove for a particular job.

The choice of different coloured nitrile gloves is useful when colour identification is required in the workplace. Colour coding gloves can be used to avoid confusion among workers as to what glove is assigned to what task. Different colours can be assigned to different steps of a task, different manufacturing lines, to distinguish between different glove types or when double gloving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are nitrile gloves latex free?

Nitrile gloves are made from Nitrile Butadiene rubber (NBR) and do not contain natural rubber latex.

Are nitrile gloves food safe?

VINYL GLOVES

Vinyl gloves are latex free and can be a cost-effective option for people working in low risk environments. However, they can break and puncture easily during use, so are not ideal in situations where the highest level of barrier protection is required. They are a looser-fitting glove compared to latex and nitrile, with a larger wrist diameter making them baggy around the cuff. The vinyl material has low elasticity, which limits fit and comfort for the wearer. Vinyl gloves generally have a low resistance to chemicals and should not be used in situations where chemical exposure may occur.

Vinyl gloves are available powder free and powdered. Unlike latex, there is no issue with glove powder and allergies, although some of the chemicals used during the manufacture of vinyl gloves can cause a reaction in some people.

Vinyl gloves are available in a variety of colours. The most popular colour is clear, although blue vinyl gloves are commonly found in food preparation areas.

Fine Touch Disposables vinyl gloves

Fine Touch supplies powder free clear vinyl gloves

FINAL THOUGHTS

This buyers guide for disposable gloves has outlined the features and  of latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves.  The most important consideration in disposable glove selection is barrier protection. Another consideration in selecting the right glove for the job is the possibility of allergies, particularly in the use of latex gloves. Risks to glove wearers may result if latex gloves with high levels of latex allergens and glove powder are used. Reducing this risk depends on limiting the amount of glove powder (if powdered latex gloves are used) and exposure to latex allergens.

The best practice for anyone working in situations that require disposable gloves is to wear a product that has the best barrier protection for the job, while minimizing any risks to the glove wearer.