Examination, skin care and eczema gloves for clinical, dental, laboratory and care settings, selected for barrier performance, skin tolerance and comfort across long shifts.
Care work is a sequence of barrier events. Patient contact, specimen handling, cleaning and waste all require a barrier that holds for the length of the task and is removed without transferring anything to the hands. The properties that address this are EN ISO 374-5 certification for micro-organisms, the additional VIRUS marking where blood borne pathogen testing has been passed, and an AQL of 1.5 or lower on the pinhole sampling.
Occupational dermatitis is one of the most common problems in this sector, and it is usually caused by the combination of frequent hand washing and alcohol gel, occlusion inside a glove for hours at a time, and residual powder or latex protein. Skin that is already damaged then becomes more permeable, which makes the next exposure worse. The properties that address this are powder free construction, avoidance of natural rubber latex where possible, and lined or skin care options for staff who already have symptoms.
Disinfectants, fixatives, laboratory reagents and cytotoxic preparations all appear in clinical environments, and a thin examination glove is a splash barrier rather than a chemical barrier. The property that addresses this is the EN ISO 374-1 letter code for the substance in question, with a heavier chemical resistant glove used for decanting, immersion or extended handling.
For general clinical and care use, specify powder free nitrile examination gloves with EN ISO 374-5 certification and an AQL of 1.5 or better. Powder free is not a preference here, since cornstarch carries protein into the air and contributes directly to sensitization among staff. Where blood borne pathogen exposure is credible, require the VIRUS marking, which may only be applied when the glove has passed ISO 16604 testing.
Treat skin health as a specification item in its own right. Staff who wear gloves for most of a shift benefit from a well fitted glove that does not force the hand to work against the material, and from options that reduce occlusion. This range includes hypoallergenic eczema gloves and colloidal oatmeal lined options intended for use over damaged or irritated skin, including versions sized for children. These are comfort and skin care products rather than clinical barriers, so they sit alongside examination gloves rather than replacing them.
Keep the chemical question separate from the examination glove decision. Cleaning, disinfection and laboratory work often involve substances that a thin disposable film resists only briefly, so match those tasks to a reusable chemical resistant glove chosen against the EN ISO 374-1 letters for the actual product and concentration.
Chemical Resistant gloves · Single Use gloves
A glove marked EN ISO 374-5 has passed penetration testing against bacteria and fungi. The word VIRUS may only be added when the glove has also passed ISO 16604 testing for penetration by blood borne pathogens, so its absence means a viral barrier has not been demonstrated.
Specify powder free gloves, avoid natural rubber latex where a nitrile alternative works, and make sure sizes actually fit rather than issuing a single size. For staff who already have irritated skin, hypoallergenic and colloidal oatmeal lined options in this range are designed to be worn against damaged skin for comfort.
For incidental splash within the chemicals the glove is certified against, yes. A thin disposable film has short breakthrough times by design, so decanting, immersion or extended contact needs a reusable chemical resistant glove selected from the EN ISO 374-1 letter codes for that substance.
Send us the tasks and hazards and our team will put together a specification and carton pricing for delivery in Canada and the United States. Request a bulk quote, check the glove sizing guide, or browse the full glove catalog.
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