BARRIER DURABILITY OF LATEX AND VINYL MEDICAL CLOVES IN CLINICAL SETTINGS

This study evaluated changes in the tensile strength and barrier integ rity of medical gloves during hospital clinical use. Nonsterile vinyl, sterile vinyl, and nonsterile natural rubber latex gloves were collec ted after use in a clinical setting and then tested for tensile streng th, elongation, and water leakage. Tensile properties of vinyl gloves did not change during use, whereas changes in latex depended on the br and evaluated. New gloves, regardless of material of manufacture, were found to have leakage rates of 2% or less. Two brands of nonsterile v inyl gloves were found to have an average rate of leakage after use of 24 to 28% (average 26%), three brands of latex gloves of 6 to 10% (av erage 8%), and one brand of sterile vinyl gloves of 3%. Low-protein po wderless latex gloves leaked slightly less than the powdered brands. T he high rates of leakage observed for nonsterile vinyl gloves indicate that they provide less barrier protection than latex in typical hospi tal use. The low leakage rate observed for sterile vinyl gloves indica tes that barrier durability is not solely a function of the generic po lymer composition of the barrier.