Journal Published Online: 01 September 2002
Volume 30, Issue 5

The Effect of Simulated Clinical Use on Vinyl and Latex Exam Glove Durability

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

A simulated clinical-use study was conducted in order to verify the failure rates found in the literature and to identify the failure modes and typical locations of defects in vinyl and latex exam gloves. A simulated clinical-use protocol consisted of approximately 12 min of manipulating various medical devices. This simulated clinical use created significantly more defects in vinyl gloves (35%) than in latex gloves (9%). The user's dominant hand was significantly associated with defect rate in vinyl gloves (60%) but not in latex gloves (56%). The majority of the defects (74%) in the vinyl gloves were located in the thumb and index finger. The defects in the latex gloves were distributed evenly among the palm/back of hand, thumb, index finger, and cuff. Typical defects consisted of holes, slits, tears, and abrasions.

Author Information

Kerr, LN
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Boivin, WS
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Chaput, MP
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Hamilton, SL
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Mailhot, SA
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
O'Malley, LG
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Teixeira, JC
Food and Drug Administration, Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, Winchester, MA
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: JTE12332J
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE12332J