Latex and Nitrile Disposable Gloves

Latex Gloves

Latex disposable gloves are becoming increasingly more important in protecting workers in many industries from hazardous materials in the workplace. Lightweight, inexpensive, and above all, protective, latex disposable gloves are a medical grade solution to potential health risks. Other, thicker latex gloves are tailor made for tough, industrial applications.

Medical grade Latex Disposable Gloves are thin, but they are powerful barriers from many invisible workplace hazards, and some visible ones as well. They form an impenetrable wall, protecting your skin from contact with bloodborne pathogens, including HBV and HIV. They can also offer some protect against workplace sharps, including needles or other dangerous broken material.

Latex Disposable Gloves for Medical Use
Medical grade latex gloves, as specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials, fall into a few different categories. The most rigorous quality specifications are for surgical grade latex disposable gloves. They must have an AQL, or Acceptable Quality Level, of under 1.5%. This means that for every 100 units shipped, only 1.5 faults per batch are acceptable. They must also stretch to 750% their original length, and have a minimum (unaged) tensile strength of at least 3480 psi.

Latex rubber examination gloves are only slightly less rigorously controlled. They must stretch to at least 700% their original length, and be able to withstand a load of 2030 psi. They also must have an AQL of 2.5% or better.

Nitrile Gloves

Over the past ten years, the use of disposable nitrile gloves in the workplace has increased substantially. As the number of latex allergies that develop in America continues to rise, the disposable nitrile gloves continue to be the most viable alternative to latex. In fact, for many applications, nitrile gloves outperform latex gloves.

Nitrile gloves are commonly available in the same thicknesses as latex, but are much more resistant to punctures and abrasions. Thicker nitrile gloves are perfect for machine use, effectively keeping grease and grime away from hands and providing a strongly textured grip for efficient machine handling. They stretch easily, with little danger of tearing, and easily conform to your hands.

Nitrile is also 100% latex-free. This means that, even with lightly powdered nitrile gloves, there is no danger of developing either a type-1 or a type-4 allergic reaction. Type-4 reactions are non-life threatening surface reactions to an irritant. Comparatively more serious, type-1 reactions can develop though periods of frequent contact with an irritant. Many latex allergies that develop are type-4 reactions, and will develop if the skin is dry, or otherwise weakened and frequently in contact with the allergen (in this case, naturally occurring latex proteins).

Purchasing Disposable Nitrile and Latex Gloves
Nitrile and latex gloves, along with many other kinds of gloves and safety equipment, are readily available from All Safety Products, Inc. We offer competitive rates for disposable Nitrile Gloves and have excellent volume pricing options in place.