Detection of surgical glove integrity

Surgical glove integrity is essential for universal precautions; glove safe ty is verified by the water load test (WLT), Concerns regarding glove injur y have prompted newer testing methodologies, including electrical conductan ce testing (ECT); however, the sensitivities of these tests are not known. We compared the sensitivity of WLT and ECT in detecting glove needle-stick injury in two commonly used brands of surgical gloves. Punctures were made with hollow-bore and solid surgical needles of various configurations. The WLT failed to detect glove holes from the smallest-caliber needles and only detected the injury in 60 per cent for the largest caliber, The ECT provid ed a graded index of glove injury in all holes made by both solid surgical needles and hollow-bore needles, The WLT is a poor test for clinical defect s in latex surgical gloves; the ECT is significantly more sensitive and pro vides a gauge of the cross-sectional area of the defect. Interbrand differe nces in self-sealing properties of surgical gloves were evidenced and may b e clinically relevant after glove perforation.