How to Choose Your Medical Gloves

Medical gloves are an essential component of personal protective equipment (PPE) and are designed to help prevent the spread of illnesses. Medical gloves are disposable and meant for one-time use for exams and procedures. They are also used in research laboratories to handle biological materials. Disposable gloves, in general, usually have a thickness of fewer than 14 mils. A mil is a unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of an inch.

There are many differences between medical gloves and the materials they consist of. The type you need depends on several factors, such as the materials you handle, the type of tasks you perform and allergy concerns. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your options, we've put together this medical glove buying guide to lend a hand. Learn about the best gloves for medical use and the benefits they offer.

Medical Glove Materials and Benefits

Although disposable gloves are available in various materials, medical gloves commonly consist of latex, nitrile and vinyl. They may be powdered or processed to help the wearer stretch the glove over their hand. Some newer gloves may be made of chloroprene. Here are the four best materials for medical gloves and the benefits you can expect with each:

1. Latex Gloves

Disposable latex gloves are made of natural rubber. They are comfortable to wear and offer high tactile sensitivity, making them the preferred choice for many medical professionals. Surgeons, in particular, might prefer latex over another material when they work with precision instruments. Latex gloves are suitable for handling water-based materials or protecting the wearer against infectious substances.

The benefits of latex gloves include:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Relatively inexpensive
• Good elasticity
• Highest tactile sensitivity
• Superior tensile strength
• Biodegradable
• Resistant to tears, punctures and abrasions with low-impact tasks
• Effective protection against bloodborne pathogens

2. Nitrile Gloves

Disposable nitrile gloves are made of synthetic rubber and are free of latex proteins. Nitrile gloves protect the wearer against various chemical and biological materials and are a popular choice in medical facilities. If you purchase nitrile gloves, check the manufacturer's list of approved chemicals to know exactly what level of protection you have. In general, nitrile gloves can handle oils, alcohols and certain bases and acids. 

Medical professionals may view nitrile gloves as the best medical glove alternative to latex. Disposable nitrile gloves offer the following benefits:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Elastic
• Non-allergenic
• Highly durable
• Resistant to punctures, tears and abrasions with low-impact activities
• Clearly shows holes or small tears
• Effective protection against bloodborne pathogens and certain chemicals
• Suitable to guard against chemical splashes
• Firm grip on slippery objects

3. Vinyl Gloves

Disposable vinyl gloves, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves, contain a type of plastic mainly consisting of salt and ethylene. Vinyl gloves are ideal for short-term, low-hazard situations. When workers perform low-risk tasks, vinyl gloves offer protection against infectious agents. Vinyl gloves are also resistant to fats, oils, peroxides and a few acids and bases. This glove material can be a low-cost alternative to latex or nitrile if durability or puncture resistance is not a priority. 

Benefits of vinyl gloves include:

• Lightweight
• Affordable
• Non-allergenic
• Resistant to abrasions

4. Chloroprene Gloves

Chloroprene gloves, also known as neoprene gloves, consist of synthetic rubber. Chloroprene gloves are a newer type of disposable glove that offers the feel of latex without the associated allergy risks. You can expect the following benefits with chloroprene gloves:

• Resistance to a range of chemicals
• High durability while performing low-impact tasks
• Elasticity

Other Types of Disposable Gloves

Depending on your industry or personal preference, you might be interested in the following types of disposable gloves:

• Chemotherapy-tested gloves: Chemotherapy gloves are disposable medical gloves that have been tested for permeability by chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy gloves may be made from chloroprene, latex or nitrile. They must be powder-free and have a cuff that extends over the sleeve. These gloves are chosen according to specific chemotherapy drugs used in a medical practice to protect wearers from exposure.
• Polyethylene gloves: Polyethylene gloves consist of clear plastic and offer protection against oils, fats and weak chemicals. They are latex-free and lightweight, and they fit loosely on the wearer. Disposable polyethylene gloves are designed for food handling and light-duty tasks and are often used in delis and other food preparation areas. Polyethylene gloves are not meant to be worn in a medical setting or used to handle infectious materials or bodily fluids.
• Aloe vera gloves: Some medical gloves are coated with aloe vera. These gloves moisturize the hands and help prevent chapped or cracked skin. Aloe-vera-coated medical gloves should meet the same standards as other types of medical gloves. 

Medical Glove Properties

The type of medical glove you choose should have all the properties you need to protect yourself or others against the materials being handled. Ultimately, they should enable you to perform your job safely and effectively. Consider the following features before you shop for medical gloves:

1. Adequate Fit

Medical gloves should fit snugly but be comfortable and flexible. If your gloves are too large, hazardous materials can easily get inside them. Oversized gloves also make it more difficult to hold objects. If the gloves are too small, they'll limit movement, be uncomfortable and tear easier. Therefore, it's critical to have the right sizes available.

Disposable gloves generally come in extra small, small, medium, large or extra large. These sizes relate to the circumference of the palm. For example, an extra-small glove may be suitable for a palm circumference of 6 to 7 inches. An extra-large glove may be best for a palm circumference of 10 to 11 inches. It's usually a good idea to have various sizes on hand to meet all employees' needs.

2. Durability

Disposable gloves should be resilient enough to handle work-related duties without tearing. If your job requires strong gloves, consider latex or nitrile. These glove materials typically form a snug but comfortable fit, which helps the wearer use their hands and fingers without stressing the material too much. Plus, latex and nitrile are stronger, thicker materials than vinyl, so they're worth considering for long-term tasks. 

3. Tactile Sensitivity

Medical tasks that require precision and the ability to feel through the glove need a material with high tactile sensitivity. Latex offers the highest tactile sensitivity of all disposable glove materials. It may be the best option for medical professionals who need to feel with their hands, grip small instruments or perform precise tasks for an extended amount of time. Thin nitrile and chloroprene gloves also work well if latex isn't an option. 

4. Puncture Resistance

While no glove is puncture-proof, some glove materials provide greater resistance to punctures than others. Puncture resistance refers to the amount of force a glove can take before an object pierces through the material. If you or your employees work with needles or fine, sharp instruments, consider a disposable glove material that offers excellent puncture resistance. Nitrile gloves are known to provide superior puncture resistance, and latex gloves are also a good choice. 

Medical professionals may wish to wear two layers of gloves, called double-gloving, to add extra protection against punctures.

5. Chemical Resistance

In general, disposable gloves are not designed to handle highly toxic chemicals or have extended contact with chemicals. However, disposable gloves have some resistance to certain chemicals, and it's important to consider what substances you need to guard against.

Nitrile gloves offer splash resistance against a wide range of chemicals, including formaldehyde solutions, hexane and other fuels, oils, some organic solvents and weak acids or caustic substances. Due to nitrile's chemical resistance, this material may be the go-to choice for disposable laboratory gloves. Chloroprene gloves also protect the wearer against various chemicals and offer excellent protection against bases and acids. No material provides the same protection, so be sure to refer to the manufacturer's list of compatible chemicals whenever you choose a glove.

6. Dexterity

Gloves should not interfere with your ability to grip instruments, tools or other objects needed to do your job or treat a patient. Several factors impact dexterity, such as glove thickness and fit. Generally, thicker gloves offer greater protection against tears and chemicals but impact dexterity more than thinner ones. Gloves also need to be the right fit to allow gripping and easy finger and hand movements. 

Latex and chloroprene gloves are both flexible and enable tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity. Nitrile gloves also create a good fit and are just as suitable as latex ones for gross dexterity tasks.

7. Allergens

If you're concerned about allergens, you may want to choose nitrile, vinyl or chloroprene gloves, which do not pose an allergy risk like latex. Some people have latex allergies and may have a reaction ranging from hives to anaphylaxis if they come into contact with a latex glove or its powder. If a latex allergy isn't a concern in your facility, you might enjoy the unique benefits of latex gloves. 

8. Color

Medical gloves are available in various colors. While this may be a matter of personal preference for some, others use different glove hues for color-coding. For example, a facility might choose blue nitrile gloves to set them apart from white or clear latex ones. Colorful gloves can also help staff detect punctures or tears easier if they wear a darker glove over a light one. White gloves may be preferred to show contaminants better. 

You might use varying glove colors in a laboratory to help prevent cross-contamination. They can also be helpful in food processing facilities. For instance, blue gloves might be assigned to departments handling cooked products, while orange might be used by those working with raw meat. Nitrile gloves, in particular, are available in a range of colors, including purple, blue and black. 

Medical Glove Options

Once you choose a medical glove material, you'll still have a few more options to consider. Below are a few of the choices you can select from, plus the benefits of using medical gloves of varying types.

Powdered or Powder-Free

Powdered gloves aid with donning, and they can be especially helpful with snug-fitting gloves such as latex. Powdered gloves typically use cornstarch as a lubricant to keep them from sticking together. This substance makes them easier and faster to slide on. These gloves also absorb sweat and increase comfort. Although powdered gloves may be easy and comfortable to wear, they are not recommended for medical use because they pose a risk of illness and inflammation for patients and medical staff. 

Powder can make latex particles hover in the air for hours, which may cause a respiratory allergic reaction in some people. Due to the health risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the medical use of powdered surgeon's gloves and powdered patient exam gloves in 2016.

Powder-free gloves offer a safer alternative. They may be coated with a small amount of silicone or another type of polymer to assist with donning. Chlorination, which is a method of reducing the stickiness of latex gloves without adding powder, may also be used. Often, medical gloves both undergo chlorination and have a polymer coating. 

If you're using disposable gloves for medical purposes, you'll have to choose powder-free gloves to comply with the FDA's rules. However, powdered gloves may be used as non-medical devices, such as in the cleaning industry, to help wearers feel more comfortable. Remember, powder-free gloves can be designed for easy donning without powder and don't pose a risk of contamination. They also will not leave a residue on clothing or objects. Powder-free gloves may be the best choice for medical facilities, research laboratories or food preparation areas.

Chlorinated or Non-Chlorinated 

If you decide to select powder-free gloves, you'll then need to choose a chlorinated or non-chlorinated version of them. Chlorination is commonly used to create powder-free gloves that are easy and quick to don. During the chlorination process, the gloves are treated with a chlorine solution. The chlorination reduces the friction and stickiness of the inner and outer surfaces of the glove and also decreases latex protein levels. 

Chlorinated latex gloves are less likely to cause an allergic reaction than non-chlorinated versions, and they are just as easy to put on. Nitrile gloves may also be chlorinated. 

On the downside, chlorination hardens the glove's material and makes it a little less pliant. The chlorination process may slightly decrease the glove's shelf life.

If you prefer powder-free, non-chlorinated gloves, you might consider ones with a polymer coating. These gloves feature surfaces coated with a polymer, which may be acrylic polyurethane, hydrogel, silicone or a polymer blend. The polymer-coating process creates gloves that are odor-neutral and easy to don. They also have a consistent color. 

If you choose gloves that are neither chlorinated nor have a polymer coating, you'll still have all the benefits of the glove material itself, but it will be more difficult to don.

Exam Gloves or Surgical Gloves

You'll also need to think about whether you need exam gloves or surgical gloves. Although both of these glove types are designed to be used in medical settings, they are not exactly the same.

Exam gloves are used to perform examinations on patients or do blood tests. They may be sterile or non-sterile, and they protect the wearer from exposure to blood or bodily fluids. These gloves may also be used for general cleaning tasks.

Surgical gloves see use during surgical procedures. Surgeons and operating room staff need sterile gloves that have a precise fit, can be worn for a long time, allow for superior dexterity and offer high tactile sensitivity. Surgical gloves also provide excellent protection against blood and bodily fluids, and they are typically longer than exam gloves. Some surgical gloves are made for specific procedures. For example, you may find:

• Dental surgery gloves: Some surgical gloves are labeled as dental surgery gloves. These gloves may be thicker than standard surgeon's gloves.
• Microsurgery gloves: Microsurgery gloves are thinner in certain areas, such as the fingertips, to help with using precision instruments.
• Orthopedic surgery gloves: Gloves designed for orthopedic surgeries may be thicker and more resistant to tears than standard surgical gloves. 

Exam and surgical gloves may be made of latex, nitrile, vinyl or chloroprene.

Which Medical Glove Should I Buy?

Shopping for suitable medical gloves requires careful consideration. You should buy medical gloves that match the intended application and fit your employees. Knowing the various glove materials can help you make the right choice, but there's plenty more to consider. To put it all together, here are some steps to take when you need to restock your medical glove supply:

1. Identify the Hazards

Different gloves offer varying levels of protection. You'll need to choose the glove type and material based on the hazards you might encounter in your lab or medical facility. Identify the following risks that may be present in your workplace:

• Types of chemicals
• Biological hazards and their potential to spread illnesses
• Physical hazards such as needles or sharp instruments
• Extreme temperatures

Be sure to read the safety data sheets for each chemical you identify.

2. Determine the Duration of Contact

Think about whether you need gloves for incidental or extended contact. Incidental contact involves little or no direct contact with a hazard. This type of contact includes situations such as cleaning up an accidental spill or protecting yourself from splashes. Disposable medical gloves are suitable for incidental contact. Still, make sure to choose a glove material that will protect you and other wearers from the hazards you've identified.

With extended contact, you'll likely need reusable gloves made of a thicker material. Butyl rubber is an example of a reusable glove material appropriate for extended contact. Extended contact refers to situations such as submerging your hands in a chemical or working in extreme temperatures. For extra protection, you might wear disposable gloves underneath a pair of reusable ones.

Be sure to consider whether you need to protect the hand, forearm or arm, regardless of contact type.

3. Consider Employees

Think about your employees and whether they are comfortable using a material such as latex. Also, consider others who may be affected by latex, such as patients or facility visitors. Lastly, try to choose gloves that will be comfortable to wear and are available in a range of sizes. Offering your employees a diverse selection of sizes will make it easier for them to wear their PPE effectively and perform tasks as needed.

Contact Mercedes Scientific to Learn More

At Mercedes Scientific, we understand you rely on medical gloves to protect employees and patients from hazardous materials, and we know you can't do your job without them. As a customer-focused medical and laboratory supply distributor, we invite you to ask us questions about any products you might need, so we can help you make the right choice. Please contact us if you'd like assistance shopping for medical gloves, or feel free to browse our selection.