Buying guide for Best medical-grade gloves
Written by Allen Foster, and fact-checked by Michael Huynh
Updated January 2023
If you handle chemicals or interact closely with people on the job, you are at greater risk for exposure to hazardous contaminants. To help protect yourself, you can wear medical-grade gloves, which act as a physical barrier to keep those contaminants off your hands.
When selecting medical-grade gloves, the first element you will want to consider is material. Medical-grade gloves are typically made of vinyl, latex, or nitrile. Of course, if you have a latex allergy, you’ll need to avoid gloves made of that material. The best medical-grade gloves fit comfortably and allow you to work without hindrance. Beyond material and comfort, there are a number of other factors to consider.
It is vital to be diligent regarding the condition of your medical-grade gloves. Numerous studies have found that up to 90% of perforations in disposable gloves go unnoticed or undetected.
Key considerations
Medical-grade gloves aren't just recommended in health care settings, they're required. Before choosing the gloves that will work best for your application, there are a few elements you'll want to consider.
Material
Vinyl:Vinyl gloves cost less than latex and nitrile gloves, making them a good option for people on a budget. These gloves offer protection against blood-borne pathogens as well as chemicals, but they have a looser fit than latex and nitrile gloves. One of the pros of wearing vinyl gloves is that there is no rubber used in the manufacturing process, so allergic reactions are nearly nonexistent.
Latex:Latex gloves offer the best and most comfortable fit. These types of gloves are elastic, so they snap back into their original shape. Latex offers an effective barrier against a wide variety of hazardous substances. It is arguably the most eco-friendly material of the three materials, too. Unfortunately, latex produces allergic reactions in some individuals that may be life-threatening. Because of this, many people believe it is wiser (and safer) to use a latex alternative.
Nitrile:Nitrile isn't quite as comfortable as latex, but it comes close. As the material heats up, it conforms to the user's hand, which helps increase comfort and dexterity. Nitrile is resistant to both chemical and biological hazards, and it is puncture resistant. Although some people can be allergic to nitrile, the trace elements of latex are often what cause the issue. Be sure the nitrile gloves you get are labeled latex-free.
One big pro for using nitrile gloves is that they can be recycled. This is typically done through a special service and requires the gloves to be discarded in a dedicated container.
Expert tip
Always use the glove once per patient, then dispose of the glove.
Dr. Michael Huynh
BestReviews Medical Expert
Features
Size
If the medical-grade gloves you get are too large, you will be more prone to accidents caused by improper fit. If the gloves are too small, you could damage them while putting them on and render them ineffective (a pinhole is all it takes). Typical sizes are small, medium, large, and extra-large.
Length
Most medical-grade gloves do not extend very far past your wrists. However, some brands offer a longer sleeve. If you would benefit from a longer sleeve, there are products to suit you, though you might have to search a little harder to find the right one.
Sterile vs. non-sterile
A sterile glove is only required for invasive procedures. It is possible to get sterile medical-grade gloves, but these do not offer any appreciable added benefit in non-surgical situations.
Powdered
At one point, medical-grade gloves used powder to facilitate putting them on. As of January 18, 2017, however, the FDA banned the use of powdered gloves, finding them to present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury. If you stumble across medical-grade gloves containing powder, do not get them.
Color
Besides style, color is an important, if not crucial, element that can help guide your workforce to quickly determine the proper glove for the task. For more information on the importance of color, see the FAQ section.
Expert tip
Wash hands after using the glove.Washing before using gloves is encouraged, butsometimes wet hands make glovesdifficult to put on.
Dr. Michael Huynh
BestReviews Medical Expert
Accessories
There are two main accessories you will need to accompany medical-grade gloves: a dispenser and a waste bin. Alternatively, if you get nitrile gloves and have access to a recycling program, the waste bin can be used as a dedicated collection bin for the nitrile gloves to be recycled.
Medical-grade glove prices
Two factors tend to have the greatest impact on the cost of medical-grade gloves: the material used and the quantity that you get. Vinyl exam gloves, for example, can cost as much as 50% less than latex and nitrile exam gloves.
Inexpensive
If you're looking for a box of 100 medical-grade gloves, vinyl gloves most often can be found in the $10 to $15 range ($0.10 to $0.15 per pair).
Mid-range
A box of 100 nitrile gloves is likely to cost between $15 and $25 ($0.15 to $0.25 per pair).
Expensive
If you need 1,000 vinyl gloves, expect to spend between $60 and $70 ($0.06 to $0.07 per pair). The same quantity of latex or nitrile gloves could range from $100 to $150 ($0.10 to $0.15 per pair).
Keep in mind that to save money, up to 50% per pair, it is better to get medical-grade gloves in bulk.
Expert tip
If you see a rip in the glove, stop what you’re doing immediately, dispose of the gloves, and replace them.
Dr. Michael Huynh
BestReviews Medical Expert
How to remove medical-grade gloves
The whole point of wearing medical-grade gloves is to protect yourself from contamination. If you do not learn how to safely remove your gloves, you could actually increase your risk of contamination. The following is the best method for removing exam gloves.
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While wearing both gloves, pinch the palm of one glove between your fingers. It is crucial that you have only glove-to-glove contact.
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Slowly pull the glove off, making certain to turn it inside out as you go.
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Once the glove has been fully removed, ball it up in the palm of your still-gloved hand. Perform this action using the gloved hand only.
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Carefully slip your index finger inside the still-gloved hand. Pull the glove out so you can use your thumb to pinch the glove. It is crucial that you only touch the inside of the glove.
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Slowly pull this glove off so it turns inside out, keeping the first glove safely balled in the middle.
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Deposit contaminated gloves in a designated medical waste receptacle. The receptacle should feature hands-free operation.
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Before touching anything else, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and running water.
Expiration dates for medical-grade gloves are not mandated by the FDA. In general, when stored properly (cool and dry), latex lasts up to three years while nitrile can last closer to five years.
FAQ
Q. Are medical-grade gloves and exam-grade gloves the same thing?
A. Yes. Another term for medical-grade gloves is exam-grade gloves. These are the gloves worn for non-surgical medical procedures, such as examinations. Medical-grade gloves undergo rigorous testing by the FDA to ensure they have acceptable quality limits (AQL) to provide a safe barrier of protection against pathogens.
Q. What is AQL?
A. It is a predetermined and agreed-upon number of acceptable defects per batch. If the AQL was 5.0 and you had a batch of 100 items, up to five of those items could be defective before the entire batch gets rejected. The best medical-grade gloves feature an AQL of 1.5 or lower.
Expert tip
Do not wear gloves that are too tight or too loose as this will cause gloves to lose their protection.
Dr. Michael Huynh
BestReviews
Q. Which industries use medical-grade gloves?
A. Medical-grade gloves are used extensively in the healthcare industry, including dental offices, nursing homes, and laboratories. Additionally, medical-grade gloves should be worn in any industry that has a risk of biological hazard contamination. This would include individuals who offer various beauty services, including tattoo artists. Another industry that can benefit from medical-grade gloves is the food service industry.
Q. What is the benefit of using medical-grade gloves of different colors?
A. One benefit of using different colors is to create a color code so workers can easily distinguish between different materials (vinyl, latex, and nitrile). Also, color coding can be used to reduce the risk of cross-contamination in a lab. Workers in workrooms and cleanrooms, for example, should wear gloves of different colors.
Also, when practicing double-gloving, wearing a brighter color glove on the inside will make it easier to determine if there is any damage to the outer layer.
