Due to the sensitivity and hazardous nature of their work, healthcare professionals, doctors, dentists, and other medical practitioners need to use durable, disposable gloves. They need to replace gloves after each patient or procedure, to ensure their own and their patients' safety.
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But medical practitioners are far from the only ones who wear disposable gloves. People in many other fields, including the industrial sector, can benefit from single-use hand protection.
To make sure that professionals in every industry can choose the right types of gloves, they are categorized and classified with varying grades, such as medical or industrial grade. There are also subtler distinctions within those grades — for example, some medical-grade gloves are suitable for surgeries, while others are considered exam-grade gloves better for non-invasive procedures.
Each grade of gloves pertains to different levels of protection against abrasion, bodily fluids, pathogens, and more. These classifications help all disposable glove users choose the right types of gloves to ensure their and their patient’s protection.
But are industrial-grade and medical gloves really that different? Let’s find out everything you need to know about medical-grade vs industrial-grade gloves.
What exactly do we mean when we say a box of gloves is medical or industrial grade?
"Medical grade" is a standard set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It's based on the acceptable quality level (AQL), which refers to the number of defects in a batch of gloves.
According to FDA guidelines, all medical gloves should have an AQL of 2.5 or less to be categorized as safe for medical and surgical procedures. When subjected to standard quality testing, no more than 2.5 pairs of gloves in a batch of 100 can have flaws like rips or pinhole leaks. This helps to minimize the risk of exposure to germs, body fluids, and other materials that could put healthcare workers at risk.
Gloves for doctors and nurses must also be powder-free. While it can be easier to put on and take off powdered gloves, the powder can also carry allergens through the air or contaminate wounds. For the safety of both patients and care providers, the FDA mandates that medical professionals should use only powder-free gloves.
Compared to medical gloves, the standards governing industrial grade gloves aren't as strict. Since there's less risk of disease transmission in non-medical settings, the FDA doesn't require that industrial gloves meet a specific AQL. However, most manufacturers ensure that their industrial grade gloves have an AQL 3-4 or better.
Industrial gloves are designed to withstand heavy tasks and tend to have high levels of cut and puncture resistance. They're often quite a bit thicker than exam gloves.
Medical and industrial-grade gloves come in many different styles and materials, some offering different levels of quality and protection.
A common alternative term for medical-grade gloves is "exam-grade gloves" or "examination gloves". Both refer to disposable gloves with an AQL of 2.5 or lower. The reason some people say "exam gloves" is to distinguish them from surgical-grade gloves.
Both surgical and examination gloves can be considered types of medical-grade gloves, but surgical gloves have some additional specifications. Single-use gloves for invasive procedures like surgery have to meet an AQL of 1.5 — an even stricter standard than exam gloves.
Surgeons also generally use sterile medical gloves that have been thoroughly disinfected and sealed in individual wrappers. This helps to minimize the risk of germs or other materials winding up in an open wound.
Another specialized type of medical-grade gloves is the kind used in chemotherapy for cancer. The medications used in these treatments are extremely toxic and often require special precautions. Doctors performing chemotherapy should use gloves that have been specifically tested and found to provide a protective barrier against these drugs.
The durability and features of industrial gloves depend on the materials used. Some are designed to be worn once and then discarded, often for use in messy tasks or those that require lots of dexterity. Here are a few different types of disposable industrial-grade gloves:
Other industrial-grade gloves are reusable rather than disposable. They're designed for longevity and durability but generally cost much more to replace. Here are some common types of reusable industrial gloves:
What kinds of scenarios and workplaces are best for industrial gloves, and which ones call for medical gloves?
At first, medical-grade gloves were designed and created for non-surgical medical applications such as physical examinations — that's why they are also called examination gloves. But their usage has expanded to encompass a wide range of other medical tasks.
Possible uses include:
Anytime you are handling biohazards or harsh chemicals in a medical setting, it is best to wear durable exam-grade gloves to protect yourself and those around you from blood-borne pathogens or chemicals. The only exception is when you need the extra protection of chemotherapy gloves or surgical gloves.
Industrial gloves are commonly used in the sanitation, janitorial, automotive, beauty, food, plumbing, chemical, industrial, and safety industries. Hence, they are also called general purpose gloves. Some tasks that might be appropriate for these gloves include:
If you are handling heavy machinery and equipment, it is best to find the right size of industrial gloves to prevent accidents at work.
As the name suggests, general purpose or industrial gloves are used for tasks that are not as delicate and sensitive as conducting surgeries or other medical procedures. Industrial-grade gloves don’t come with a USFDA certificate. They can’t be used in medical procedures.
However, medical gloves can be used for general purposes. They're often employed in non-medical industries like skincare or tattooing, where their high level of protection against infections can be important.
Picking the right gloves for the job isn't as simple as choosing medical-grade gloves or industrial gloves. It's also important to consider glove thickness. Thicker gloves offer better protection against tears and punctures, so they may be better for rough jobs. Thinner gloves allow for more flexibility, making them excellent for tasks that require delicacy and precision.
You should also consider the material you're using. Disposable gloves are most commonly made from latex, nitrile, or vinyl. The type of gloves you use will depend on the tasks and their purpose and application.
To help you choose the best medical and/or industrial gloves, here’s a comparison table of gloves based on their materials.
Glove Material Intended Use Advantages Disadvantages Latex (Natural Rubber) Incidental contactWhether you are searching for medical-grade or industrial-grade gloves, you can find them here at Gloves.com. Visit us today and browse through our top-of-the-line and high-quality gloves!
We have different types of gloves available in various colors and sizes. From latex gloves to nitrile and vinyl gloves, you can find them here! When you are ready to get your gloves, browse through our collections, select the material, choose the size, and place your order.
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Medical-grade gloves are a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many professional environments. Though most often used in healthcare settings, disposable medical gloves are also necessary for caregivers, food handlers, dentists and other professionals. Wherever health and sanitation are top concerns, protective gloves are essential. They help stop the spread of germs and viruses, promoting the safety of both employees and those they serve.
If you need disposable gloves for your professional environment, choosing the best possible kind of glove is critical. You’ll need to understand the difference between various disposable glove types. Not all gloves are the same — different materials, strength levels and other features lend themselves to distinct purposes. Below, we’ll discuss the 10 most important considerations for stocking up on gloves.
Only some disposable gloves qualify as medical gloves. To fit the medical-grade description, disposable gloves must meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quality assurance guidelines. These guidelines ensure all gloves used in medical settings are durable and reliable, not flimsy or brittle. For patient examinations, gloves must have an acceptable quality level (AQL) no higher than 2.5. That rating means no more than 2.5% of the gloves in a batch can have defects. These gloves are non-sterile — sterile gloves must have an even lower AQL measure.
Manufacturers have to keep up with stringent testing measures to achieve a score of 2.5 or lower. Gloves with an AQL higher than 4 or 5 are only acceptable for mechanical or industrial purposes. Rigorous AQL standards require glove manufacturers to employ uncompromising quality control. The AQL scoring guide helps ensure gloves used for medical purposes are without defects. Tears or other lapses in quality could leave healthcare professionals and their patients vulnerable to pathogens or other contaminants.
Depending on your application, you’ll have to decide on an acceptable AQL rating. You may be able to find industry standards, but if not, opt for lower AQL numbers for the best quality disposable gloves. Keep in mind, doctors use gloves with AQL scores of 2.5 or lower during patient examinations. A similar score would likely suffice for your environment unless you need them for surgical purposes.
Disposable gloves with an acceptable AQL rating come in a variety of materials. One of the first things you should consider is your glove material preference. Different glove materials are useful for different purposes, so it’s a good idea to learn about the available options before making a bulk purchase.
Nitrile gloves are one of the best alternatives to latex gloves, offering a longer average shelf life. Standard nitrile gloves are an ideal non-sterile option. A powder-free, latex-free nitrile glove is resistant to chemicals, oils and acids. Nitrile’s strength makes these gloves tough and helps them stay puncture-free, even when worn for extended periods. If latex allergies are an issue, nitrile gloves offer a flexible, touch-sensitive alternative. You can buy bulk orders of nitrile gloves in a variety of colors and sizes.
Latex is a comfortable, inexpensive glove option suitable for most medical environments. They’ve been a staple of many healthcare facilities since the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic of the s. With that said, latex allergies are common. There’s a high likelihood someone in your organization or someone you serve will have a latex allergy. If you’re purchasing gloves for widespread use, you might consider a material less likely to cause allergic reactions, such as nitrile or vinyl. Latex also has a short shelf life compared to other materials.
Another option is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) glove. PVC is a common synthetic plastic polymer. Since they’re easy to mass-produce, these gloves are one of the least expensive options. They’re also less durable than other glove types, and they offer limited hazard protection. For that reason, PVC gloves are best suited for low-hazard applications. In some cases, a nitrile-vinyl blend glove may be the best choice for affordability and durability.
For most applications, one of the above-listed materials will suffice. Here are a few other material choices you might consider for latex-free medical gloves:
For a glove to have a “sterile” rating, it must meet strict FDA guidelines. Sterile medical gloves are acceptable for surgical purposes, so they must have the best possible AQL ratings. Sterile gloves must have an acceptable quality level of 1.5 or lower. As mentioned above, examination gloves can have an AQL as high as 2.5, so sterile gloves can be considered even safer. Because their manufacture requires strict testing, sterile gloves may have a higher price.
Though the term “non-sterile” may sound concerning, non-sterile gloves with an AQL of 2.5 or lower are acceptable for any non-surgical purposes. Using non-sterile gloves in non-surgical settings is safe and reduces the risk of disease transmission. Most healthcare workers use non-sterile gloves for patient examination purposes.
Non-sterile gloves work well for other applications, as well. If you’re looking for disposable gloves for routine cleaning, food service, caregiving or other purposes, non-sterile gloves should be fine. It’s vital to decide on an acceptable AQL rating for your purposes.
You may come across powdered and non-powdered glove options. Powdered gloves feature cornstarch coatings, which makes them easier to put on and prevents them from sticking together. Though this can improve convenience, the FDA has banned powdered gloves for surgery and patient examination purposes.
According to the FDA, the risks of powdered gloves in medical settings outweigh the benefits. The powder can cling to the wearer’s skin, causing irritation, inflammation or allergic reactions. It can also cause surgical complications involving peritoneal adhesions, which are a type of bond between a person’s organs. Though the ban does not yet extend to food service applications, loose cornstarch from powdered gloves may cause food contamination. In most instances, a non-powdered glove is a preferable choice.
You should also consider glove thickness. Thicker gloves provide a stronger protective barrier. They also better resist tears, allowing for a longer wear time. A heavy-duty, industrial-grade glove will offer more thickness than a lighter, thinner glove.
With that said, a thicker glove may dull touch sensitivity, which isn’t ideal in certain settings. If your application requires a high level of touch sensitivity, you might opt for thinner gloves made from a durable material, such as nitrile. When browsing glove options, look for thickness measurements in mils.
Certain situations call for a high level of tactile or touch sensitivity. For instance, a surgeon needs unimpaired touch sensitivity to perform surgery with the necessary precision and accuracy. Tactile-sensitive gloves made of a lightweight material will allow for precision levels similar to an ungloved hand. Sensitivity may also be necessary for a number of applications, including food preparation, electronic handling and pharmaceuticals.
You should also consider glove comfort and fit, including various size options. Depending on your application, your staff may need to wear gloves while performing complex tasks. They may also need to wear their gloves for extended periods. It’s vital to choose comfortable gloves — an uncomfortable glove may hinder someone’s ability to perform their necessary responsibilities.
Size options are an essential consideration. If a glove is too small, it may cause irritability or limit blood circulation to the wearer’s hand, making the fit distracting and uncomfortable. A too-small glove is more likely to tear, as well, compromising its protective barrier.
If a glove is too large, other concerns may arise. Loose space between the glove and the wearer’s skin may leave the wearer vulnerable to pathogens. A glove that’s too big is also likely to fall off, causing a significant contamination concern. When buying gloves, be sure to acquire several sizes, at least small, medium and large.
Tensile strength refers to a material’s resistance to breaking when stretched or pulled. Gloves with higher tensile strength ratings are more tear-resistant. Nitrile and latex are both materials with high tensile strength ratings — you can tug and pull on them quite a bit before they’ll start to tear. Since a tear would compromise a glove’s protection, tensile strength is essential. It’s an important measurement to acknowledge, especially for applications requiring hand dexterity.
Though you may not think twice about glove color, it can make a notable difference. You may choose to color code your gloves so staff can easily differentiate between various glove types. For instance, you might choose blue for latex gloves and black for non-latex gloves, so those with a latex allergy will have no trouble selecting the non-latex gloves. If you need both sterile and non-sterile gloves, color coding could again be useful.
Certain glove colors also make tears more apparent. If you wear a dark-colored glove on top of a light-colored glove, tears will be easy to identify. You can then change gloves as soon as possible after a tear, minimizing contamination risks.
You may wonder whether or not double-gloving offers more protection than wearing a single glove. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), double-gloving is an effective way to protect the wearer from pathogens and other harmful substances. They found that while glove perforations were common, there were no instances of inner double-glove perforation. The NIH recommends double-gloving as a routine practice for operating rooms.
Standardizing double-gloving may help you promote your staff’s safety and wellbeing. Should you choose to do so, you may need to store greater quantities of gloves. It’s a good idea to order gloves in bulk amounts for this purpose.
The final factor you should consider is a glove’s shelf life. Buying disposable gloves in bulk will ensure you always have gloves available when needed — but it may also mean some gloves sit unused for extended periods. A glove’s shelf life depends most on its material. Nitrile gloves last longer than any other material. You should always check the manufacturer’s guidelines, but most nitrile gloves will last in their original packaging for several years.
In most cases, it’s easy to tell if a glove is compromised. A compromised glove may have surface cracks or feel brittle to the touch. Always wear gloves with normal tensile strength and durability, and keep careful track of how long your gloves have sat on the shelf.
Proper storage can help make gloves last longer. For short or long-term glove storage, you should keep gloves:
When deciding where to store your gloves, opt for a cool, dark environment. In most cases, a shelf in a secluded closet will do fine. Proper storage will help you extend your gloves’ shelf life, saving you time and money long-term and minimizing waste.
Choosing the right gloves for your application can make your environment safer, healthier and more productive. When shopping for new disposable gloves, consider several factors — the material, AQL, durability, comfort, dexterity, color and additional features. Each of these factors is significant. Once you’ve chosen the right gloves for you, be sure to purchase as many as you may need and follow best storage practices.
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