Gloves 101

Whether for use in laboratories, the food service industry, or in households, gloves are fundamental for hand protection, user-hygiene, and prevention of risks related to cross-contamination or infection. Given all the glove options to choose from these days, it might be challenging to find the best for your application especially if you're not familiar with each glove type. Good thing one of SECO's reliable suppliers, Emerald, has prepared a rundown on the different glove types available,  including their pros and cons, to help make your glove selection process faster. 

Materials

Many gloves may look the same, but they are made of materials that vary drastically. When choosing a glove to meet your needs, it’s important to know the pros and cons of each material. Do you like the fit of a latex glove, but prefer the advanced protection of nitrile products? Do you have allergies to consider when making your choice? If you’re having trouble deciding which glove is right for you, take a moment to read through the information below.

Latex

    Pros

• • Natural rubber latex is a processed plant product

  • Most trusted material and first choice for healthcare settings worldwide

  • Consistent fit, flexibility, and resilience. Fits the best!

  • Reliable performance and barrier protection against infection and contamination

    Cons

• • Allergic reaction for some users

  • Costs fluctuate according to prices of natural resources

Vinyl

    Pros

• • First synthetic material available to consumer

  • Composed of polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers that softens the material.

  • Economical alternative to latex gloves. Cheapest material used for gloves!Great for basic hand protection in a low infection environment.

  • Good multi-purpose glove for general use and activities that do not require highest degree of tactile precision.

  • Allergy Free!

    Cons

• • Does not fit as well as latex

Nitrile

    Pros

• • Synthetic Polymer that exhibits rubber-like characteristics

  • Protein and allergy free

  • Much of the same flexibility, tensile strength, and durability as latex

  • Superior to latex gloves in providing protection against petroleum-based products.

    Cons

• • More expensive to produce than latex.

Types of Gloves

Emerald products are intended to service varying needs across a wide range of markets and industries, such as:

Powder vs. Powder-Free

Powder is used to make gloves easier to pull on, and to keep them from sticking together. It can act as a vehicle for the transmission of latex proteins. Typical powders used are cornstarch and oatmeal.  Powder-free gloves typically cost more, since powders must be removed from the glove.

Latex Allergy – What does that mean?

When the body’s immune system is sensitized to a foreign protein, it may react by forming a type of antibody called IgE. Specifically directed against the foreign protein, the IgE antibody causes an allergic or immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Allergic responses may range from hives (urticaria) to allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, or, in some cases, life threatening allergic attacks (anaphylaxis).

Some individuals are the carriers of allergic antibodies directed against one or more of the proteins found in natural rubber latex. Latex gloves are frequently implicated in allergic reactions because of repeated direct exposure of the wearer’s hands, or because of airborne latex proteins absorbed by the powders used to lubricate some latex gloves.

Looking for the Right Glove?

Discover SECO's line of Emerald gloves to find the best pair for your application. We showcase chemical-resistant Emerald Powder-Free Nitrile Exam Gloves as well as tear-resistant Emerald Powder-Free Latex Exam Gloves all available in XS-XL sizes to accommodate your requirements. Browse in-stock Emerald Disposable Gloves listing here today.