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GLOVE TYPE |
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| Level Of Barrier Protection |
Excellent-
The longstanding benchmark for barrier protection due to its strength and elasticity.
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Excellent-
Polyurethane film is very durable with a high puncture, tear and abrasion resistance.
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Very Good-
Neoprene provides barrier protection similar to latex.
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Excellent-
Nitrile film is highly resistant to punctures and tears.
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Poor-
Vinyl breaks and punctures easily during use and the fit around the wrist is baggy, making it a poor barrier.
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| Allergen Content |
Varies-
Latex contains protein and chemical allergens. Powder-free gloves are lower in allergens than powdered gloves.
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Excellent-
Polyurethane contains no latex proteins or chemical allergens.
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Excellent-
Neoprene contains no latex proteins but contains a low level of chemical allergens.
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Very Good-
Nitrile contains no latex proteins but contains some curing agents and other chemical ingredients.
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Good-
Vinyl contains no latex proteins but contains some curing agents and other chemical ingredients.
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| Strength & Durability |
Excellent-
Natural rubber latex is very strong and durable. Tensile strength is typically 3000 psi or better.
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Excellent-
Polyurethane is extremely strong with puncture resistance superior to latex, neoprene and vinyl. It exhibits excellent tear and abrasion resistance as well. Tensile strength is typically 3000 psi or better.
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Very Good-
Unbroken neoprene is strong. However, once punctured, the film tends to tear easily. Tensile strength is typically 3000 psi or better.
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Excellent-
Nitrile film is extremely strong with puncture resistance superior to all glove films. Tensile strength is typically well above 3000.
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Poor-
Vinyl is the weakest of the four films and tends to break and puncture easily when stressed. Tensile strength is typically below 2000 psi.
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| Elasticity |
Excellent-
Latex elasticity is superior to the other glove films currently available. Memory is very high allowing the film to always return to its original shape. Elongation limit is about. 750%.
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Excellent-
Polyurethane is the closest to latex, with very high memory so the film retains its original shape. Elongation limit is about 750% or better.
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Excellent-
Neoprene elasticity is close to that of latex and memory is very high, allowing the film to retain its original shape. Elongation limit is about 750%.
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Very Good-
Nitrile elasticity is very good with elongation limits typically 500% or better. Nitrile exhibits some memory, allowing the film to adapt to the wearer's hand.
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Fair to Poor-
Vinyl elasticity is limited and varies from brand to brand. Typical elongation limit is less than 500%. The film exhibits limited memory.
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| Puncture Resistance |
Very Good-
Latex is very resistant to punctures but can be pierced by very sharp objects.
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Excellent-
Puncture resistance is one of the polyurethane's strongest attributes. Its puncture resistance is superior to latex, neoprene and vinyl.
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Good-
Neoprene is somewhat puncture resistant.
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Excellent-
One of nitrile's strong points. Puncture resistance is superior to all other medical glove films currently available.
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Poor-
Vinyl is easily punctured by sharp objects.
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| Fit, Comfort |
Excellent-
Latex provides excellent comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory.
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Very Good-
Polyurethane provides very good comfort and fit due to its latex-like physical properties.
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Excellent-
Neoprene provides excellent comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory.
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Very Good-
Nitrile provides very good comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory. Due to a slightly tighter fit, users often choose a larger size.
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Fair-
Low elasticity limits fit and comfort for many users. The wrist diameter is usually very large making the glove baggy around the cuff.
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Chemical Resistance
* |
Good-
Provides good protection form most caustics and detergents. Also recommended by OSHA for cytotoxic drugs.
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Very Good-
Exhibits resistance to ozone, oxygen, fuel, oil and solvents as well as most chemicals.
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Very Good-
Provides protection form acids, alcohols, caustics, detergents and keytones.
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Excellent-
Nitrile exhibits excellent resistance to most chemicals especially harsh solvents.
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Poor-
Offers very little protection. Vinyl is easily permeated by organic solvents.
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| Economy |
Very Good-
Latex provides very good economy for general use. Powder-free versions are more expensive than powdered.
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Fair-
Polyurethane is more expensive than latex and other non-latex films but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies.
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Good-
Neoprene is more expensive than latex but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies.
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Good-
Nitrile is more expensive than latex but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies.
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Very Good-
Vinyl costs are typically similar to those of latex. Vinyl is a low-cost alternative to latex if latex allergies are a concern.
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Recom-
mended Use |
Recommended as the first choice for barrier protection in the healthcare environment except for users who are allergic to latex.
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Recommended as a preferred alternative to natural rubber latex due to its similarity to latex with respect to fit, feel, comfort and barrier protection. Also recommended for those with allergies and sensitive skin.
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Recommended as a preferred alternative to natural rubber latex due to its similarity to latex with respect to fit, feel, comfort and barrier protection. Also recommended for those with allergies and sensitive skin.
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Recommended as a preferred alternative to natural rubber latex. Also recommended for conditions where high strength and/or chemical protection is required.
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Recommended as a low-cost alternative to natural rubber latex for short procedures not involving blood or body fluids.
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