Nitrile, latex, or vinyl are the most common materials used in disposable latex gloves. In this article, we’ll look at what distinguishes these gloves from one another, as well as give recommendations for which settings each type is most suited for.
Disposable gloves are a must-have component in any healthcare facility. These not only protect medical patients and providers from potentially harmful microorganisms, but they also serve to establish a standard of hygiene and care throughout the sector. While it should serve as no shock, you may not be aware that not all disposable latex gloves are made equal.
Certain items are better suited for various medical situations due to varying material and design changes. Furthermore, ordering the incorrect glove for your practice could result in a waste of money as well as an increased danger of rips, punctures, and tears.
Gloves made of latex
Latex has always been the superstar of the healthcare disposable glove business for decades. This is since, as Darwin Brown of Physician Assistant points out, latex gloves were advised as a precaution against bloodborne viruses like HIV in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, as their numbers increased, so did the number of allergic responses. As a result, the need for latex-free expendable glove substitutes such as nitrile and vinyl has increased. Latex gloves are pleasant, very inexpensive, and provide a high level of touch sensitivity in non-allergic people.
Because of their high degrees of adaptability, safety, and ease, disposable latex gloves are ideal for most medical situations – as long as latex allergy is not an issue.
Gloves made of nitrile
Nitrile gloves are made of petroleum-derived inorganic artificial materials. For many people, nitrile is a natural choice; tattoo artists prefer black gloves, while enthusiasts and surgeons prefer its sharpness.
Many tattooists have given their nitrile disposable gloves to important employees and medical facilities as a result of covid. Hospitals typically utilize only medical-grade nitrile, but covid caused scarcity across the United States.
Nitrile disposable gloves sprang to prominence as a viable latex replacement in the 1990s. Reusable nitrile disposable gloves are much more durable and chemical resistant than latex gloves, while not being as flexible. As a result, these gloves are an excellent choice for anybody who works with possibly hazardous or caustic compounds They’re also suitable for most medical settings, as they’re extremely puncture-resistant and eliminate the risk of rubber allergic reactions.
Gloves made of vinyl
PVC, a petroleum-based film, is used to make vinyl gloves. The main advantage of vinyl expendable gloves is their low cost of production. They are, however, less durable than nitrile and latex, and they provide only minimal protection from chemical and biological exposure. Single molecules split when vinyl gloves are flexed or stretched, compromising the protective barrier’s stability. According to Health & Safety International, vinyl gloves have indeed raised a red flag in terms of their environmental effect.
Vinyl gloves are frequently employed in non-hazardous and low-infection areas because of their inexpensive price and reduced level of protection.