INTRODUCTION TO LATEX AND THE RUBBER INDUSTRY

The natural rubber latex (NRL) protein allergy issue has created one o f the biggest market drivers for improved and new products in the glov e industry. Manufacturers have responded bg; funding research into the al ea of understanding how their processes and products may have been involved in the cause and propagation of the allergy. Efforts were fo cused on how to reduce the NRL proteins during the manufacturing proce ss. Reliable and relevant test methods for the protein allergen conten t are still being sought to help assist manufacturers in the monitorin g of their products.