Nitrile, latex and vinyl are the three most common materials used to manufacture disposable gloves.
Latex gloves
Latex gloves, made of natural rubber, are produced from the milky fluid tapped from the bark of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), a plant native to the Amazon that is now extensively cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand.
The elasticity and strength of latex make it ideal for glove production; on the other hand, latex proteins are prone to causing skin sensitization problems.
Nitrile gloves
Disposable nitrile gloves are made from nitrile rubber or NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), which has excellent chemical resistance and can be processed to produce gloves with very good mechanical properties, as well as gloves suitable for contact with food.
Nitrile gloves are less likely to cause skin sensitization in the wearer, are generally better tolerated than latex gloves and can be manufactured to achieve equivalent performance, while also being more suitable for food contact.
Vinyl gloves
Vinyl gloves generally have lower mechanical properties than nitrile or latex gloves, but they are usually more economical and do not have the latex-related skin sensitization issue.
Due to the presence of phthalates, they are not suitable for use with fatty or alcoholic foods.
Reference standard for protection against risks from microorganisms: EN 374-5
For nitrile gloves – and in any case regardless of the material from which the gloves are made – the UNI EN ISO 374-5 standard lays down specific performance requirements for protection against microorganisms.
Nitrile gloves certified according to EN 374-5 protect against viruses, bacteria and fungi, but protection against viruses requires an additional test and specific marking.
Tests and marking of disposable gloves according to EN 374-5
The essential characteristic of a glove that is resistant to microorganisms is that it passes the air-leak and water-leak tests as described in EN 374-2.
To certify viral protection, in addition to penetration tests the nitrile glove must not exhibit any detectable transfer (<1 PFU/ml) of the Phi-X174 bacteriophage in the titration test.
The table below summarises the tests required in order to classify a glove for resistance to microorganisms.
| Type of protection | Compliance with points 4, 5, 7 of EN 420:2009 | Air and water leak tests | Phi-X174 bacteriophage transfer test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protective gloves against bacteria and fungi | X | X | |
| Protective gloves against viruses, bacteria and fungi | X | X | X |
X = Required
For those looking for certified disposable gloves for multipurpose use, you can also explore the products such as Blue Nitrile Gloves Multipurpose and Black Nitrile Disposable Gloves, available from international suppliers: Blue Nitrile Gloves Multipurpose – Black Nitrile Disposable Gloves