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A Guide To The Barrier Effectiveness of Latex Free Gloves
THE FACT
Gloves are the most common barrier used by healthcare professionals, both inside
and outside the surgical arena.
Healthcare providers demand a two-way protection from gloves to prevent transmission
of microorganisms both to and from the patient.
THE ISSUES
Of major concern are the hepatitis B virus (HBV),hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Tests have shown that intact latex gloves do indeed
provide a barrier to these viruses.1,2 However,
with the recent rise in awareness of latex allergy hypersensitivity, nonlatex gloving
alternatives are being considered for patient care. But, do they offer adequate
barrier protection?
THE TEST
This brochure summarizes independent barrier tests performed on
Ansell nonlatex medical gloves.
The virus chosen for the test was the ØX174 bacteriophage a surrogate microbe*
and one of the smallest known viruses which represents the worse case scenario in
barrier testing.
*Per ASTM F1671 Section 5.4
METHOD
Test gloves were suspended in a 1 L flask containing ØX174 virus challenge
in nutrient broth. The gloves were filled with a nutrient broth, secured to the
flask and placed on an orbital shaker at 100 RPM in a 37(+/-)2°C incubator. See
illustration on below.
Samples were removed from inside the glove at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 180 minutes
and assayed for the challenge virus. Positive and negative controls were included
in each test run. Three positive and three negative controls were tested for each
type of glove. Positive controls consisted of gloves with small holes in the fingers
introduced by a 22 or 16 gauge needle. Negative controls consisted of sterile glass
test tubes filled with nutrient broth suspended in the virus challenge.
THE RESULTS
The quantitative test results given in PFU/mL are summarized in the following tables.
The detection limit for this assay was 1 PFU/mL. Results listed <1 indicate that
no virus was detected in the sample.
SOLUTION
Based on the test method and results, Ansell's line of Latex Free gloves listed
below offers an effective mechanical barrier against viral penetration.**
Gloves are a critical line of defense against infection and you cannot afford to
take unnecessary risks or make unsafe assumptions. Not only do you need the best
hand barrier protection products available, you also need the information required
to make the best possible choices.
At Ansell we have both.
 |
 |
S
a
m
p
l
e
s |
Minutes |
|
|
0 |
15 |
30 |
45 |
60 |
120 |
180 |
|
1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
4 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
5 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
6 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
7 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
8 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
9 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
10 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
PC-1 |
8 |
98 |
2.1
X102 |
2.3
X102 |
6.4
X102 |
9.5
X102 |
1.1
X103 |
|
PC-2 |
<1 |
<1 |
63 |
70 |
1.6
X102 |
7.7
X102 |
1.1
X103 |
|
PC-3 |
9 |
51 |
2.0
X102 |
2.0
X102 |
2.2
X102 |
1.3
X103 |
1.8
X103 |
|
S
a
m
p
l
e
s |
Minutes |
|
|
0 |
15 |
30 |
45 |
60 |
120 |
180 |
|
1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
1 |
10 |
16 |
|
3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
4 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
5 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
6 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
7 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
8 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
9 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
10 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
PC-1 |
<1 |
77 |
68 |
1.4
X102 |
1.5
X102 |
2.0
X103 |
3.3
X103 |
|
PC-2 |
3 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
32 |
1.6
X102 |
2.4
X103 |
|
PC-3 |
3 |
27 |
27 |
33 |
32 |
1.0
X102 |
5.2
X102 |
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 |
 |
S
a
m
p
l
e
s |
Minutes |
|
|
0 |
15 |
30 |
45 |
60 |
120 |
180 |
|
1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
4 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
5 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
6 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
7 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
8 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
9 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
10 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1* |
<1 |
|
NC-1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-2 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
NC-3 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
PC-1 |
97 |
45 |
61 |
58 |
69 |
138 |
106 |
|
PC-2 |
8 |
4 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
43 |
50 |
|
PC-3 |
167 |
176 |
245 |
255 |
269 |
285 |
335 |
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Glove Assay Procedure Specimen Position
- Dalgleish AG Malkovsky M. Surgical gloves as a mechanical barrier against human
immunodeficiency viruses. Br.J Surg 1998;75(Feb):171-2
- Zbitnew A, et al. Vinyl versus latex gloves as barriers to transmission of viruses
in the health care setting. J Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 1989;2:201-4.
- Douglas A, Simon RT Goddard M. Barrier durability of latex on vinyl medical gloves
in clinical settings. AIAH J 1997 (Sep);58:672-6.
- Korniewicz DM Laughton BE, Cyr WH Lytle CD, Larson E. Leakage of virus through
used vinyl and latex examination gloves. J Clin Microbiology 1990 (Apr);28(4):787-8.
- Korniewicz DM, Laughton BE, Butz A, Larson E. Integritv of vinyl and latex procedure
gloves. Nursing Research 1989 (May/June);38(3):144-6.
- Zbitnew A, Greer K, Heise-Qualtiere J, Conly J. Vinyl versus latex gloves as
barriers to transmission of viruses in the health care setting. J Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndromes 1989 (Nov);2:201-4.
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The results are expressed in plaque forming units per milliliter (PFU/ml).
NC= Negative Control || PC= Positive Control
All counts below 60 are considered approximates because they are outside of the
statistically accurate range.
* One of the triplicate plates had one plaque, but the average is still <1 PFU.
** Based on static testing as described. Independent research identifies natural
rubber latex as a superior barrier to Latex Free s in clinical or dynamic test environments.3,4,5
Ansell recommends that healthcare workers consider frequent glove inspection, changing
gloves regularly, and handwashing as important infection control practice.6
Data on file.
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