Latex Gloves Types and Styles

Hand your business over to the right type of latex gloves
By Harrison Howe Whether you're in the medical examination field or the food service industry, it's likely you spend a great deal of your day wearing latex gloves. There are a few latex gloves types and styles designed specifically for certain kinds of work. All latex gloves must meet certain manufacturing standards set by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM).

Latex gloves types and styles include disposable or non-disposable, powdered or non-powdered, examination or industrial strength, and textured or non-textured. All latex gloves range in size from small to extra-large. If you want to make sure the latex gloves you are using are of a grade designed for your kind of work and meet manufacturing standards, consider the following:

1. Make sure your latex gloves meet industry standards.
2. See the different kinds of industrial latex gloves available.
3. Use latex gloves designed specifically for the medical field.
   

Wear latex gloves that meet federal and other standards

Regardless if they are designed for medical or industrial use, all latex gloves types and styles must adhere to federal requirements and other manufacturing standards. Both the FDA and ASTM provide manufacturing guidelines for latex gloves. These standards address such properties as elasticity, elongation, puncture and tear, as well as chemical resistance.
Try:  SurgicalGlove.net shows FDA and ATSM standards for tensile strength, puncture resistance and elongation for surgical latex gloves, both before and after aging. View a chart showing standards and specifications for latex examination gloves, from pinhole ratings to elasticity and even palm and finger thickness, at Harvard Apparatus.

Protect your hands in the toughest of environments with industrial latex gloves

For medical laboratories, food service businesses, materials handling and industrial settings, durable latex gloves are necessary. Industrial latex gloves can be disposable or non-disposable, textured or non-textured, chemical-resistant and up to 12 inches in length to offer better protection.
Try:  See standard industrial latex gloves, both smooth grip and textured, many with extended cuffs, at Plastek Protective Products. Sara Glove Company has small, medium, large and extra-large disposable industrial latex gloves that provide a high degree of mobility and flexibility.

Work safely in the medical field wearing latex gloves

From dental hygienists to surgeons, latex gloves are essential to those working in the medical field, where it's critical that these gloves meet FDA and ASTM standards. Mainly you'll wear examination latex gloves, disposable and either powdered or non-powdered. Latex gloves types and styles of examination gloves also include scented, colored and various thicknesses and strengths.
Try:  US Safety Gear has many types of white examination latex gloves, such as powdered and powder-free, fully or micro-textured and extended cuff. EQ Plus offers a wide range of examination grade latex gloves, including powdered, lightly powdered and powder-free, in different colors and scents, and even some coated with natural moisturizers.

• Avoid potential allergic reactions by using latex gloves that are made of different types of latex, such as those made from guayule latex, which were cleared by the FDA in 2008. This differs from traditional latex and cuts the risk of allergic reactions.