Biomechanical performance of latex and non-latex double-glove systems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ten commercially available latex, powder-free surgical gloves and four commercially available non-latex, powder-free surgical gloves using standardized, reproducible biomechanical parameters that included glove thickness, puncture resistance, and glove donning force. For all gloves tested, with one exception (Neolontrade mark PF), puncture resistance increased for double-gloves as compared to single-gloves. In addition, single-glove thickness was not a reliable determinant of puncture resistance for either latex or non-latex gloves. For the latex gloves, the Ultrafree double and single-gloves exhibited the highest puncture resistance. The glove donning forces for the Biogeltrade mark M and Biogel Sensortrade mark single-gloves were the lowest. In contrast, the Biogel Revealtrade mark and Encoretrade mark Ultra-Thick exhibited the lowest double-glove donning forces. On the basis of these performance tests of latex gloves, the surgeon should consider the Biogel Reveal as well as the Ultrafree gloves for their latex double-glove system. For the non-latex gloves, the Pure Advantage Nitriletrade mark glove had the highest puncture resistance for one layer and two layers of glove material. The thin Pure Advantage Nitrile glove was the most resistant to glove puncture. The Pure Advantage Nitrile glove had low glove donning forces for both single-glove donning configurations and double-glove donning configurations. Consequently, we recommend the Pure Advantage Nitrile glove as the powder-free, non-latex, double-glove system.

Puncture resistance and stiffness of nitrile and latex dental examination gloves

“…[25][26][27][28] Fisher et al 28 reported that the thickness of the glove type was not an accurate predictor of puncture resistance as the thinnest glove assessed, the nitrile glove type, exhibited the highest puncture resistance and recommended the use of nitrile gloves for latexsensitised surgeons. In the current study, the Microtouch latex glove type assessed was the thickest (0.1778 mm), however, the three nitrile glove types Nitratouch (0.1143 mm), Safeskin (0.12446 mm) and Microtouch nitrile (0.1778 mm) exhibited a significantly higher puncture resistance.…”

“…In the current study, Microtouch latex gloves exhibited an overall mean puncture resistance of 3.39 ± 0.76 N and for specimens from the index finger alone, a mean puncture resistance of 3.51 ± 0.43 N. This is a higher value than that evaluated for latex examination glove types from previous studies. [25][26][27][28] Dental injection Needle Manson et al 29 devised a novel method to quantify the force necessary for a representative 0.45 mm diameter needle to penetrate a glove specimen. The initial and maximal penetration forces were recorded for Biogel latex gloves to be 0.04 ± 0.01 N and 0.05 ± 0.01 N respectively, similar to values recorded in the current study.…”

“…The nitrile glove types assessed had higher stiffness values, which explained the greater resistance to puncture reported in the current study. The nitrile gloves exhibited superior puncture resistance properties, as stated in studies previously [25][26][27][28] as compared with latex gloves. However, as highlighted by Hasma and Othman 30 and Checchi et al 31 the gloves' elastic properties influence the passage of liquid through punctures.…”

“…The authors proposed that the low modulus enables the latex glove material to stretch partially over the smaller needles of 0.22 mm, 0.25 mm and to a lesser extent 0.3-0.35 mm needles rather than tear as occurs with vinyl and nitrile glove types. Fisher et al 28 identified that one of the two nitrile glove types assessed had a stiffness of 92.9 N/m; which was significantly greater than the 62.7 N/m for the one latex glove type assessed. As the method of stiffness evaluation was different to the current study, comparisons between the figures may not be substantiated, however the general trend was similar to the current study and indicated that the nitrile gloves investigated had a greater stiffness value than the latex gloves assessed.…”

Abrasion resistance of medical glove materials

“…For example, multiple authors have studied leakage of both latex and nonlatex gloves after clinical use,1–5 simulated use,6–10 or directly out of the box 11–13. Physical properties such as puncture resistance, tensile strength, stiffness, and ease of donning for various glove materials have been studied 2, 7, 9, 14, 15. Mechanical durability studies that explore repeated flexing, such as that experienced near the joints and knuckles of a gloved hand while manipulating a sphygmomanometer, as a potential mode of failure for both latex16–19 and nonlatex18, 20 materials have also been performed.…”