Disposable gloves are an essential item in the healthcare environment. They protect both patients and healthcare providers from exposure to potentially dangerous microbes and help set a precedent of hygiene across the medical industry. Apart from healthcare providers, people belonging to any field can use disposable gloves in order to avoid direct contact with infections and germs. They can protect your health and the health of the person you are taking care of.
Disposable gloves are not all created equal. They may either be sterile or non-sterile. Most people do not need sterile gloves. Sterile gloves are individually wrapped, whereas non-sterile disposable gloves are usually pulled out of a container or a box.
Disposable gloves may be made from latex (rubber), nitrile or vinyl materials. Different designs and material choices make these gloves better suited for certain medical environments. In this blog, we will discuss what makes these gloves distinct from each other and offer guidance into which environments each type best suits.
Where these gloves are used:
Nitrile Gloves:
- Hospitals because of their FDA-approved strength test.
- Industries and construction sites due to their durability.
Latex Gloves:
- Operation theatre because of high touch sensitivity.
- Chemical labs due to their durable material and low chemical transmission rate.
Vinyl Gloves:
- Handling and serving food to prevent the transfusion of bacteria onto food.
- Light tasks such as cooking, painting, and cleaning.
Nitrile Gloves:
Nitrile gloves are fabricated from synthetic rubber and are specifically designed to build upon the best features of natural rubber without the drawback of potential allergic reactions. Nitrile synthetic rubber has superior resistance to abrasion, wear and tear, puncture, oil, grease, and various types of solvents. Nitrile gloves have more flexibility, stretch more, and usually fit better than vinyl gloves. Moreover, the manufacturing process of nitrile gloves includes a textured grip-enhancing finish on the thumbs and fingers.
For non-medical applications, nitrile gloves are a longer-lasting solution, especially in meat and poultry operations, due to superior resistance to animal greases and fats. In medical applications, nitrile gloves that meet FDA requirements as non-sterile examination gloves are also chosen by medical professionals due to their enhanced flexibility, sensitivity, and fit.
Latex Gloves:
Latex gloves are manufactured from a biodegradable material originating from the latex ducts of rubber trees. These gloves have the most resilient, elastic, and form-fitting material, which gives the wearer a great deal of tactility, dexterity, and comfort, making these gloves perfect for auto repair, medical, and food service applications.
Latex gloves are one of the most common gloves and offer the most effective protection against viruses, bacteria, and body fluids. Latex gloves can come in various thicknesses for durability from tears and punctures. They usually include powered, lightly powdered, and powder-free forms. The powder inside these gloves is generally cornstarch-based. People who can opt for these gloves generally include:
- Medical professionals.
- Those who want a comfy fit.
- Those who work in salons or cosmetic businesses.
- Those who prefer enhanced touch sensitivity gloves.
Furthermore, latex gloves are essential safety gear for people who want to protect themselves while working outdoors or at home. They are durable and strong and can keep hands clean and free from dust, dirt, and other debris. In addition, they are a cost-effective choice and are readily available.
Vinyl Gloves:
Vinyl gloves are made from plastic resin and plasticizer, which provides strength and flexibility. These gloves’ actual performance depends on the resin-to-plasticizer ratio. The higher the resin, the more potent yet less flexible the glove will be. However, vinyl gloves have limited chemical resistance because various harsh chemicals and solvents extract the plasticizer from the gloves.
For non-medical applications, vinyl gloves offer a lower-cost solution for hygiene purposes. Vinyl gloves are also an ideal choice for food preparation and service workers. In medical applications, vinyl gloves that meet FDA requirements are used as non-sterile examination gloves.
Approximate Costs Of Nitrile, Vinyl, And Latex Gloves:
In general, the average cost of disposable gloves ranges between $9 to $25, and there are various factors to consider in order to choose the best type of disposable gloves, such as their quality, durability, flexibility, and strength. These factors also affect the estimated costs of these gloves. The estimated costs of latex gloves per bundle vary between $30 to $35.
On average, vinyl gloves are considered to be the cheapest ones and cost around $20 to $50 or more, and these prices usually depend on the quantity of each bundle one is buying. Nitrile gloves’ average cost usually ranges between $20 per bundle. However, this price varies with regard to different factors, including their availability and location of customers.
In Conclusion:
Disposable gloves play a significant role in the safety of people belonging to different fields. But one should choose the type of gloves depending on their skin type, especially if they are sensitive or allergic to specific glove material. Furthermore, also try to look for the quality raw materials used in manufacturing disposable gloves.
In general, nitrile gloves are the most durable and resistant to chemicals and punctures. Whereas latex gloves are more elastic and flexible than nitrile gloves, but some people are allergic to these gloves. Moreover, they are the most popular in the medical care and food industry because of their high sensitivity and eco-friendly material.
Gloves fabricated from vinyl material are the go-to for people who require minimum protection from harmful substances. Vinyl gloves are cheaper in price and offer lower-scale protection for professionals who perform light-duty tasks such as cleaning the kitchen or painting a fence.
Moreover, opting for the right type of glove also depends on the application for which one will be using the glove. Try to buy a glove that is the correct size for your hand, which will provide the most comfortable fit and will prevent the gloves from falling off your hands. Some people have also reported having allergic reactions to the cornstarch-based powder in the gloves. That’s why this factor should also be kept in mind while choosing powdered or powder-free gloves.