OBSERVATIONS OF SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY DETECTED ABNORMALITIES OF NONLUBRICATED LATEX CONDOMS

To describe surface abnormalities found by scanning electron microscop y of non-lubricated latex condoms, thirty samples of 15 condoms were p hotographed at low (26-94x), medium (240-940x) and high (>1000x) magni fication. Each sample was initially scanned at low magnification to de termine the presence and location Of surface abnormalities. Photograph s taken at medium and high magnification were of the area most represe ntative of the abnormality. Nine samples (30%) were completely normal at all magnifications. Of the total viewed at low power, 18 (60%) were normal, 11 (37%) revealed ridging and 1 (3%) revealed melting. Of the total viewed at medium power, 14 (47%) were normal, 3 (10%) showed cr acking, 2 (7%) showed melting or a combination of ridging and cracking , and 11 (37%) showed ridging. At high power, 10 (34%) were normal, 11 (38%) revealed either melting or a combination of two defects, 5 (17% ) showed ridging, and 3 (10%) revealed cracking. Fifteen (50%) of the samples revealed a surface abnormality (cracking or melting) other tha n ridging. The majority of condoms viewed under scanning electron micr oscopy revealed surface abnormalities. The implication of the detected abnormalities needs further evaluations. While ridging may represent a minor abnormality associated with condom handling, multiple abnormal ities or melting may represent a more significant atypicality.