A Guide to Choosing the Right Medical Gloves

Gloves have been used for a variety of purposes since the early days, and the same is true of today's medical gloves. There is a wide variety of medical gloves available. Choosing the right glove for the right task can be confusing. Options include powdered, non-powdered, latex, nitrile, and more.

 

Gloves have been used for a variety of purposes since the early days, and the same is true of today's medical gloves. There is a wide variety of medical gloves available. Choosing the right glove for the right task can be confusing. Options include powdered, non-powdered, latex, suits and ties and more.

Read this guide to choosing the right glove. It will demystify a range of tasks, materials and performance considerations.

 

Selecting medical gloves

When choosing medical gloves, you have a choice of different materials. The three main options are latex, nitrile and vinyl. There is a fourth option, but more on that later. First, you need to know what properties and features you need in a glove. This depends on the task you need the glove for. Each of the several properties described below will suggest one or more materials or glove types.

 

 

Prevention of cross-contamination

Preventing cross-contamination may be the primary purpose of wearing medical gloves, but not all gloves offer the same level of protection. Latex and nitrile gloves provide excellent biological barrier properties. Vinyl gloves offer less protection and are therefore suitable for lower risk medical tasks.

 

Toughness and strength

No matter what task you use gloves for, they should not tear or split. Nitrile and latex medical gloves are stronger than vinyl gloves. This durability makes them suitable for tasks that involve more pressure. Thicker gloves bring extra elasticity, although this does mean a loss of sensitivity or sensation.

 

Grip

Tasks involving the use of tools, instruments or small objects will require gloves with some gripping ability. Latex gloves provide the greatest grip because the material naturally grips. Some nitrile gloves are less grippy, but do have a textured surface to provide more grip. Some gloves offer textured fingertips, which can be a good compromise.

Sensation and sensitivity

If medical tasks require handling instruments or feeling veins, then you need sensitivity. Latex gloves that fit snugly and are flexible are the best choice for such tasks. Thin nitrile medical gloves can also work well. Vinyl gloves are not suitable for these tasks.

 

Close fit

Gloves fit well, with no loose areas, but have a degree of elasticity that provides a good balance between comfort and dexterity. When being able to manipulate your fingers with ease is important, the best material is latex.
Thin nitrile gloves will also provide greater elasticity, comfort and fit, but are less likely to tolerate the wrong size. Vinyl medical gloves have much less elasticity.

 

 

Chemical Resistance

Resistance to corrosive chemicals is rarely needed in a medical environment. Nitrile gloves are resistant to a range of chemicals, but latex may not respond well to oil-based chemicals. If chemical resistance is specifically needed, check for PPE certification.
Vinyl gloves are usually not suitable when chemical resistance is required. They can be used for basic cleaning operations using mild detergents. 

YERUN is a professional manufacturer of nitrile gloves and we also have disposable vinyl gloves for sale, so if you are looking for reliable medical gloves, please contact us for a quote.