If you work in the medical, aerospace, or pharmaceutical industries, you probably have to wear disposable or cleanroom gloves while on the job. Trying to choose which kind of glove to use can be a complicated and daunting decision, especially if you’re brand new to the various brands and materials on the market today.

In most cleanrooms, attaining validation for a cleanroom glove can be a long and demanding process. Just two decades ago, it was common to accept standard gloves for cleanroom operations. Vinyl gloves used to be a favorite in the micro-electronic industry, but a better understanding of contaminants and barrier issues has contributed to their disappearance in many facilities.

You may be wondering, why do cleanroom applications even require specific gloves?

In many cases, the main purpose for wearing gloves it to avoid contamination of a specific product or process. There can be a high cost for contamination in a cleanroom environment, especially when it comes to biological agents of parenteral drugs. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a clean and tidy environment in these facilities.

What Are Cleanroom Gloves?

In the layman’s terms, cleanroom gloves are gloves that have been specially washed and packaged in a sterile and safe environment. They are often used in applications where it is very important to minimize contamination from dust and other particles.

Most glove buyers and consumers are concerned about their products being contaminated during the handling, packaging, and finishing process. The main concerns in most cleanrooms are: body oils, biohazards, and other environmental concerns.

Now, let’s take a look at some popular cleanroom gloves you should consider for your facility:

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are a very popular choice for people who work in the medical industry. The main reason some people choose nitrile gloves over latex is because many people can have an allergic reaction to latex. When an allergy is not a concern, latex gloves can have some advantages over other cleanroom gloves, such as comfort and dexterity. Some benefits of latex gloves include:

• They tend to fit like a second skin 
• They work very well in high-risk situations that involve infectious materials 
• They are cost-effective and biodegradable 
• They can be worn for an extended amount of time 
• They have a high level of touch-sensitivity

If you’re shopping for latex gloves online, be sure to check out SOSCleanRoom’s large selection of affordable latex gloves. We offer an impressive selection of brands, including Chemtronics, DuPont, and Static Solutions. Some of our most popular latex gloves include:

Life Guard Latex Examination Gloves

Our Life Guard Latex Examination Gloves are perfect for virtually any cleanroom application. They are powder-free, chlorinated, and feature a textured surface so you can perform tactile jobs with ease. They are also considered to be FDA Medical Grade, and you can order 10 boxes with 100 gloves in each box.

Cleanroom TGL900 Series 9.5" Latex Gloves

TechNiGlove International has quickly positioned itself as a leader in the design and manufacturing of disposable gloves for contamination-controlled work environments. These gloves can be used in sterile non-medical environments, cleanrooms, and within the pharmaceutical industry. Our Cleanroom TGL900 Series 9.5" Latex Gloves are ambidextrous and 9.5” in length. They feature a fully textured fingertip for impeccable grip in both wet and dry conditions. Silicone-free and made from the highest grade of latex available, we’re confident you’ll love this disposable glove.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are extremely popular among a variety of industries, and for good reason. These disposable gloves are made out of a synthetic rubber, that is ideal when latex allergies are of concern. These gloves are extremely puncture-resistant, and they are often referred to as medical-grade gloves. In order for nitrile gloves to be marketed to hospitals and other medical facilities, they must undergo a series of rigorous test from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure their durability. Some other perks of these gloves are:

• They offer a high level of sensitivity 
• They are extremely puncture-resistant 
• They mold to your hand for a perfect fit 
• They can resist many chemicals and have a long shelf life 
• Often available in blue and black colors to help identify when the glove has been punctured

If you’re in the market for nitrile gloves for your medical facility or electronics manufacturing operation, be sure to shop SOSCleanroom online. We offer a wonderful array of high-quality nitrile gloves that are suitable for a variety of industries, and we would love to help you find the best fit for your application. Some of our most popular nitrile gloves include:

Exam Grade RV400 Series 9.5" Nitrile Gloves

Another TechNiGlove International glove that we love is the Exam Grade RV400 Series 9.5" Nitrile Gloves. These cleanroom gloves are powder-free and accelerator-free, and they deliver a comfortable fit for virtually any hand size. These gloves are packaged with 200 gloves a box to save space and reduce environmental waste.

Cleanroom TechniTote Series 12" Nitrile Gloves

If you’re looking for a portable nitrile glove dispenser that you can bring from cleanroom to cleanroom, you’ll love our Cleanroom TNT1200PFB Series 12" Nitrile Gloves. These nitrile gloves come in a plastic clamshell dispenser with 100 gloves for convenient transport. This 100% nitrile glove meets the most stringent requirements for particles and extractables. Order yours today!

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves tend to be a very popular choice for people who work in the food industry where high levels of durability and protection are less of a worry. While these disposable gloves may be less durable than their latex and nitrile counterparts, they tend to be the most affordable option available. These gloves:

• Tend to have a looser fit 
• Are latex-free 
• Are great for short-term and low-risk tasks 
• Offer anti-static properties 
• Can be lightly powdered, making them easier to put on

As you can see, there are some pretty major differences between latex, nitrile, and vinyl gloves. Now that you have a better understanding of the three different materials used to make disposable gloves, let’s take a look at some more disposable glove options you’ll have to choose from.

• Powdered Gloves - As you may have guessed, powdered gloves are powdered (often with cornstarch) to improve their tactility. 
• Powder-Free Gloves - These are disposable gloves that do not feature a powder coating. 
• Chlorinated Gloves - These are powder-free gloves that have been treated with chlorine. 
• Non-Chlorinated Gloves - These powder-free gloves are often coated with gel or silicone particles. 
• Examination Gloves - These medical-grade gloves can come in either sterile or non-sterile forms. 
• Surgical Gloves - These disposable gloves are usually sterile and high-quality medical grade.

We hope that this blog article has give you a better understanding of the various disposable gloves out there.

SOSCleanRoom.com: Your Partner In Disposable Gloves

At SOSCleanRoom.com, we’re proud to be an industry leader in the distribution of cleanroom supplies used in commercial, medical, and industrial applications. For more than 33 years, we’ve been providing unparalleled customer service to our customers involved in the semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and other health care industries. Whether you’re shopping for cleanroom gloves, wipers, sticky mats, swabs, or cleanroom garments, we’re confident you’ll find everything you need in our online store. Visit our online store to start shopping today!