What are Nitrile Gloves and what are they used for?
Nitrile gloves are used by healthcare professionals during medical examinations and procedures. They are worn to reduce transmission of pathogens from microorganisms and cross contamination between patients. Often referred to as medical gloves or surgical gloves and available as sterile or non-sterile gloves. Nitrile gloves are used an alternative to latex gloves when the wearer or the patient has a latex allergy. Although seen as secondary to its latex counterpart, Nitrile Gloves are quickly becoming far more popular due to their durability and low cost.
Why choose Nitrile gloves?
Nitrile Gloves are perfectly suited for most medical environments with them being exceptionally puncture-resistant and eliminating the risk of the wearer developing an allergic reaction.
Nitrile is a synthetic material which mean it is far more durable than other types of disposable gloves and can reduce the chance of splitting and ripping when donning the gloves or using them.
Latex is a natural material and thus makes their availability more unpredictable. However, as Nitrile is a manmade product It is not subject to natures volatility and can be produced on demand.
If you want to read more about what Gloves to use in your health-care setting, find out what the HSE advise: https://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/employ/gloves.htm
Regulations
When purchasing gloves for your Medical Practice or Healthcare setting, make sure that your nitrile gloves have the correct certification for the job they are intended for. Our nitrile gloves conform to the following standards.
- BS EN 1186-1: 2002
- BS EN 13130-1:2004
- EN16523-1: 2015+A1: 2018
- EN ISO 374-: 2016+A1: 2018/Type B
- EN 374-2: 2014
- EN ISO 374-4: 2019
- EN ISO 374-5: 2016
- EN ISO 21420: 2020
- BS EN 455-1: 2020
- BS EN 455-2: 2015
- BS EN 455-3: 2015
- BS EN 455-4: 2009
- ASTM F1671-2013
Why do we need to use them?
Many healthcare workers wear Nitrile Gloves for two main reasons:
- Reducing the risk of contamination of the wearer’s hands with bodily fluids, blood, or micro-organisms.
- Reduce the transmission of germs from the patient to the healthcare worker and preventing cross-contamination between patients.
