Regulations Regarding Medical Exam Gloves

Medical exam gloves are a critical item for those who work in the health care field. For one, they help protect those who work with the sick and injured from getting sick themselves by acting as a protective barrier from bodily fluids. In addition, they also protect the sick from infection from the germs and bacteria that live on human hands. To assure the safety of the medical professional and the patient, there are certain guidelines that medical exam gloves must meet.

Latex Alternatives

• Some people have developed allergies to natural rubber latex, or NRL. Emergency medical workers are encouraged to use alternatives, such as gloves made from nitrile. Nitrile is free of NRL. According to the National Fire Protection Association, nitrile gloves provide the most cost-effective alternative to NRL gloves.

Powdered Gloves

• Those working in the health care industry must wear non-powdered gloves. According to the Food and Drug Administration, glove powder "contributes to a number of other adverse health effects for patients in whom the powder may get deposited."

Glove Design

• Gloves must be designated as single-use only, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Five sizes must be available as well per manufacturer. They do not have to be right- or left-hand specific, though.

Performance Requirements

• All gloves used by medical personnel must pass a battery of tests, including tests for "liquidtight integrity, biopenetration resistance, puncture resistance, dexterity, latex protein level, tensile strength and elongation," according to the National Fire Protection Association. The most important test is the biopenetration test, which tests the likelihood of a pathogen to penetrate the glove barrier.