Medical Gloves – Who Wins Hands Down?

If you have been exposed to the medical profession even for a brief encounter, you would know that protective gloves in healthcare are a must.  But not all gloves are created equal.

The classic glove used in the medical profession is latex.  Latex has been used for centuries for many different purposes under various names, the most popular being rubber.  Yes, latex gloves are made of rubber. 

The first use of rubber as a glove in the medical profession dates back to the late 1800’s by a man named William Steward Halsted.  He was trying to improve methods for sterilization and asked a major tire company if they could make a glove that could be dipped in carbolic acid.  Thus the latex glove was born.  It wasn’t until 1964 that disposable latex gloves began to be manufactured and changed the medical profession as well as many other professions forever.

Unfortunately for latex, it was soon found out that many people were allergic to latex.  Today nearly 7 percent of the population and over 15 percent of medical personnel are allergic to latex.  A substitution needed to be provided.  As time and engineering have progressed latex substitutes have come to the market in the form of neoprene, vinyl, and polyisoprene gloves.

The substitutes, though they have come a long way over the years in terms of remaining sensitivity for the wearer, are much more expensive than latex (In  some cases over 50% more ) and many physicians still argue they don’t get the same sensitivity in their hands as they do with latex.

As for who wins, well, that’s really up to the user.  For example, nitrile gloves are considered some of the most durable gloves on the market.  Some studies suggest they are 300% more resistant to puncture than latex gloves.  The trade off?   Nitrile gloves do not fit as tightly as latex, are less strong than latex, and many wearers claim a significant reduction in dexterity.  But these gloves are extremely popular with dental offices nationwide whereas the medical profession would prefer polyisoprene as a substitute for latex. 

Fortunately for you HRS Direct, your trusted medical supply store, has a wide variety of medical gloves to suit your needs.  From heavy medical office use to home health care needs, HRS Direct stands ready to help.  Call us today at 800.457.0477 or visit us on the web by clicking on the link above.

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