Disposable Gloves

Disposable gloves are an essential item in any healthcare environment. They not only protect healthcare providers and patients from exposure to potentially dangerous microbes, but they also help set a precedent of hygiene and care across the industry. While this shouldn’t come as a surprise, what you might not have realized is that disposable gloves aren’t all created equal.

Different materials and design choices make certain products better suited for different medical environments. And if you order the wrong type of glove for your practice, you may end up wasting resources and increasing the risk of punctures, rips and tears.

Disposable gloves are generally made from one of three materials: nitrile, latex or vinyl. Let’s explore what makes these gloves different from each other, as well as offer guidance into which environments each type is best suited for.

Latex Gloves

For decades, latex has been the rockstar of the medical disposable glove world. This is because latex gloves were recommended protection in the 1980s and 1990s against bloodborne pathogens like HIV. But as their popularity increased, so did cases of allergic reactions. This led to more demand for latex-free disposable glove alternatives, like nitrile and vinyl. For those who aren’t allergic, latex gloves are comfortable, relatively cost-effective, and offer a high degree of touch sensitivity.

Ideal for: Nail Salons, Tattoo Shops, Food Handling, Hospitals and General Cleaning

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves are made from PVC, a petroleum-based film. The primary benefit of vinyl disposable gloves is that they’re inexpensive to manufacture. That being said, they are less durable than latex and nitrile, and they offer limited protection against chemical or biomedical exposure. When vinyl gloves are stretched or flexed, the individual molecules separate and the integrity of the protective barrier is compromised. Due to their low protection levels, vinyl gloves are commonly used in non-hazardous and low-infection environments.

Ideal for: Food Handling, Healthcare and Personal Care

Nitrile Gloves                                                                    

Nitrile gloves came to prominence in the 1990s as a leading latex alternative. While they’re not as elastic or flexible as their latex counterparts, disposable nitrile gloves are notably more durable and resistant to chemicals. As such, these gloves are the ideal choice for anyone handling potentially hazardous and corrosive chemicals. They are also perfectly suited for most medical environments, being exceptionally puncture-resistant and eliminating the risk of latex allergy reactions. RB Medical Supply carries various Nitrile Gloves that have a 2-year shelf life, are chemotherapy resistant (blue, 4 mil) and fentanyl resistant (black, 6 mil) with a 5-year shelf life.

Ideal for: Law Enforcement, Fire/ EMS, Automotive Mechanics, Nail Salons, Tattoo Shops, Food Handling, Medical & Dental fields, Industrial Companies and General Cleaning

You, your employees and your loved ones all need protection from infectious diseases, and RB Medical Supply carries a variety of infection control and prevention products. Our selection of premium products has you covered whether you need masks, gloves, gowns or other protective apparel.