Buying the Right Type of Medical Glove: 10 Things to Consider


Medical-grade gloves are a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many professional environments.

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.


1. Type of Material

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.


2. Sterile vs. Non-Sterile

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.

3. Powdered vs. Non-Powdered Gloves

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.


4. Glove Thickness

You should also consider glove thickness. Thicker gloves provide a stronger protective barrier.


5. Tactile Sensitivity

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. 


6. Glove Comfort and Fit

You should also consider glove comfort and fit, including various size options.


7. Tensile Strength

Tensile strength refers to a material’s resistance to breaking when stretched or pulled.


8. Glove Color 

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. 


9. Double-Gloving

You may wonder whether or not double-gloving offers more protection than wearing a single glove.


10. Shelf Life

The final factor you should consider is a glove’s shelf life. 

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