Medical gloves are examples of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to protect the wearer and/or patient from the spread of infection or disease during medical procedures/examinations. Medical gloves are extremely useful for the protection of the hands and are generally required for all personnel work in a healthcare environment. Gloves provide protection from hazardous exposure, enabling workers to perform their jobs without risk. They are often disposable; are used once and then discarded. Disposable gloves can be washed and reused, but if they are used over an extended period of time it is possible that some bacteria, fungi, or viruses may become immune to most forms of sterilization.
According to Coherent Market Insights the Medical Gloves Market Global Industry Insights, Trends, Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2028.
Medical gloves are made of different polymers such as latex, polyvinyl chloride, nitrile rubber, and neoprene; they come un-powdered, or powdered with corn starch to lubricate the gloves, making them easier to put on the hands. For high-quality gloves, latex rubber is considered the ultimate choice. Latex rubber provides the strength and durability that is required to provide 100% protection against any chemical, biological, or physical agent. With so many different uses, latex rubber remains the material of choice for latex gloves everywhere. The majority of surgical gloves are still made from latex. Medical examination gloves are often made of latex or synthetic materials such as nitrile or vinyl (PVC).
A medical glove is a single-use, disposable protection product used during a medical procedure. These gloves prevent cross-contamination between patients and caregivers. The most common uses for medical gloves are during both minor and surgical procedures. There are several key characteristics of a medical glove. These include its comfort, resistance to penetration, and/or adequate tactile sensitivity. To meet these requirements, manufacturers conduct tensile tests. In these tests, the material of the medical glove is tested for its tensile strength, tensile stress, yield point, and ultimate elongation. All of these parameters are crucial for selecting the glove that is comfortable and effective in protecting user from contaminants/pathogens.
Latex medical gloves have long been the standard medical glove. They are thin enough to offer maximum dexterity and comfort and have a low risk of irritation or infection. Latex has become the most widely used medical glove material. There are other forms of sterile gloves that are used in the medical industry. Majority of gloves used for surgical procedures are usually white in color, made of latex. Such surgical gloves are made with non-sterile disposable gloves as well. These latex-based surgical gloves can be mixed with vasoconstrictors or pain relievers to reduce amount of circulating blood and reduce the risk of surgical site infections. While, sterile cotton gloves help limit the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other infectious particles.
There are two main types of medical gloves, such as examination and surgical. Examination gloves are available as either sterile or non-sterile, while surgical gloves are generally sterile. Surgical gloves have more precise sizing with a better precision and sensitivity and are made to a higher standard. Thus, with the rise in number of pandemic diseases and increase in number of surgical procedures, the demand for medical gloves is also increasing worldwide.
