Failure of a new double glove hole detection system in the emergency department

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a new double g love hole detection system in the Emergency Department. First, the frequenc y of holes in both gloves of the double glove hole detection system was det ermined using a watertight test method. Second, the frequency of glove punc ture was determined first by searching for the optical color change that oc curs with the ingress of fluid in the double glove hole detection system. T hese same gloves were then removed and also checked for holes by the watert ight test method, After removal from the package, no holes were detected in the two gloves of the system using the watertight test method. In 50 conse cutive patients, there was no color change in the inner glove indicating gl ove puncture. When these same gloves were then tested with the watertight t est method, 14 of the 50 double glove hole detection systems failed; all 14 outer gloves were punctured, and three of the inner gloves had holes witho ut demonstrable injury to the skin, This double glove hole detection system is not a reliable system to detect holes in relatively dry clinical settin gs because the ingress of fluid by capillary action between the gloves is n ecessary to cause a color change in the inner glove that signals the presen ce of a hole. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.