Assessment of the Durability of Medical Examination Gloves

Abstract

This study determined the durability of various types of medical examination gloves using a laboratory test developed by the researchers. Results of this testing are compared with a simulated clinical method, also developed by the researchers, found to produce failures at rates similar to actual clinical use. Ten types of exam gloves were tested. One set of gloves was tested using a glove durability method. A second set was worn and conditioned using a simulated clinical method for comparison. The third set consisted of a control set of gloves that were not stressed. Samples consisted of 100 gloves combined from 2 or 4 manufacturers. All gloves were water-leak tested as the last step. The glove durability method created failures at similar rates to the simulated clinical method. The majority of the defects were located in the finger regions of the gloves. Durability of powdered and powder-free vinyl gloves was inferior to that of other glove types tested, with failure rates ranging from 24% to 42%, compared with 3% to 17% for the other glove types tested. Glove durability was also affected by the powdered state of the gloves and the user having long fingernails.