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What Is the Porosity of Latex Exam Gloves?

While in the past, latex gloves were used to protect a physician from chemicals, today we rely on them to protect medical workers from viruses or bacteria from a patient, and vice versa. However, the effectiveness of latex gloves varies.

  1. Porosity

    • In simple terms, porosity refers to the amount of empty space there is in comparison to the amount of material that is present. For example, if you had a jar of marbles, the porosity would be the amount of air between each marble.

    Porosity and Microorganisms

    • Viruses and bacteria are microscopic and can fit through very small spaces, spaces much too small for humans to even see. If a material is porous enough, it is possible for these microorganisms to pass through the material, which can cause contamination.

    Latex Gloves and Porosity

    • Since latex is a natural material, gloves will vary in how porous they are from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even from lot to lot. Studies have found bacterial penetration to occur in between 8 and 80 percent of latex exam gloves.

    Safety and Latex Gloves

    • In general, studies find that latex gloves are effective for protecting against bacteria and viruses. However, there are problems in that their effectiveness decreases over time; the longer they are used, especially if they get wet, the more likely they are to rupture, which will result in contamination.

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