Nitrile Gloves – Exam, Disposable, Black, Purple

Although nitrile was used in making surgical gloves, you will have a hard time finding such a pair of protective glove being used in an operating theater. Nitrile surgical gloves were created in search of a cost-effective latex-free, synthetic alternative as the awareness of latex allergies became rampant. The idea was good, but nitrile glove manufacturers could only do so much to make nitrile feel like a surgical glove.

The problem with nitrile is that the elongation and tensile strength was inferior to latex material. Latex rubber is one of the most flexible materials and can be stretched pretty far. Essentially, this gives latex surgical gloves a great feeling. Given today’s technology, it was not possible to make a nitrile surgical glove that felt like latex. Surgeons that tested out nitrile surgical gloves complained that they could hardly feel anything. For surgeons, having a high tactile sensitivity is crucial.

The other major problem was that nitrile surgical gloves tended to get slippery when it came into contact with blood and bodily fluids. This resulted in having a less secure grip on surgical instruments so that it hampered the ability for a surgeon to effectively perform optimally. Another issue discovered was that during extended periods of donning the nitrile version of the surgical glove, there were some reports that nitrile gloves were less comfortable and tired out the hands.

Neoprene and polyisoprene surgical gloves are now the most popular synthetic surgical glove you will find. Although nitrile is considerably cheaper, surgical gloves cannot inhibit surgeons from performing to the best of their abilities while they are trying to save lives. For this reason, it is quite rare for you to see nitrile surgical gloves used today.

Are neoprene gloves the same as nitrile gloves? The short answer is no. These gloves are made out of different materials. Although neoprene and nitrile are made from synthetic, latex-free materials, the physical properties of these gloves are quite different. Although their names may sound familiar, if you were to handle these protective gloves side-by-side, you will quickly notice a difference between the two materials.


Neoprene gloves are made from neoprene material, just like what diving wetsuits are made out of. Neoprene conforms well to the contour of the human body and it fits very well on our hands. Neoprene gloves tend to be more comfortable to wear, even for extended period of time. When you compare the price of each glove, neoprene gloves tend to be more expensive than the nitrile glove counterpart. As such, neoprene gloves are not as prevalent and used in more exclusive environments. For instance, this material is a popular work glove for industrial factories. In addition, neoprene is widely used as a surgical glove in place of latex gloves.

Always remember that not all glove materials protect you the same way. When neoprene and nitrile gloves are manufactured, they are tested accordingly. Especially when it comes to handling chemicals, it is always best to inquire about penetration testing on the respective material to ensure you work consistently in a safe environment. As an example, nitrile gloves and neoprene gloves will have different levels of protection if it comes into contact with formaldehyde. The test data you should be looking for is the time it takes for this chemical to penetrate the glove. Based on this knowledge, you can put in to practice how often you should change gloves.

Kimberly-Clark, a leading manufacturer of medical supplies (including protective gloves), makes the popular nitrile gloves for both healthcare and industrial work places. Kimberly-Clark has gained notoriety due to the introduction of the purple color to a nitrile glove. This was a significant strategy because it gave workers a quick visual cue that if they needed to use a glove made out of nitrile, all they would need to do is grab the purple glove.

The KC Safeskin Purple Nitrile glove is available as a medical exam glove. This should not be confused with their Purple Nitrile glove made for industrial companies. Although these protective gloves may look and feel similar, they are tested for different things. Within a hospital setting, you should always use the medical exam glove version of the Purple Nitrile glove because they have been tested to protect against blood borne pathogens. The AQL standard is also more stringent in the purple nitrile glove being used in a medical environment.

As for the non-medical version of the KC Purple Nitrile, this protective glove tends to be thicker and longer. The extra thickness gives a better protection against punctures and has a higher resistance to a wide range of oil-based chemicals. The added length is quite useful in that it covers not just the fingers and palms, but the wrists and arms as well. As expected, the thickness of the nitrile material used will determine the level of protection provided. The thicker the nitrile gloves are, the less feels the hands will have but that is usually not a concern as an industrial glove.

To put it simply, nitrile gloves are protective gloves made out of a synthetic material. Traditionally, medical and industrial gloves used to protect you from punctures, chemicals, and even harmful viruses have been made out of latex. In fact, nitrile protects better against punctures and can be used to offer resistance against a wide range of chemicals. Since many people are known to be allergic to latex rubber, nitrile gloves have become very popular.

Although nitrile gloves may seem superior, it is not without drawbacks. In the past nitrile rubber used to be quite expensive but as demand caused production levels to increase, nitrile gloves have become more affordable. Nevertheless, this synthetic glove may be more expensive than latex or vinyl. Another con is that nitrile material feels more slippery than its latex counterpart. This makes handling tools harder when working in a wet environment. To add some friction, glove manufacturers added texture to the fingertips to prevent slippage.

Making nitrile gloves is quite similar to how latex gloves are manufactured and undergo similar quality assurance tests depending on the classification of the nitrile glove. For instance, if the nitrile glove will be used within the healthcare industry, the nitrile glove will be tested as a medical exam glove that is set forth by the FDA.

Nearly all nitrile gloves are made to be used as disposable gloves meaning they are meant to be used and thrown away after single use. Since nitrile gloves are so durable, it may be tempting to reuse the glove but this is advised against. Especially if you are wearing nitrile gloves to protect against viruses, bacteria, or chemicals, you should throw the used glove away properly. When nitrile gloves come into contact with chemicals, it typically reacts and causes the material to be less solid. Although the nitrile glove may appear to be ok, the glove might not protect as well as a new glove.

My dad has always told me that when it comes to cars, every man should know how to replace their own tire change the oil on their own. I’m proud to say that I can do both, but if you’re anything like me, you probably get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube. Call it laziness if you will, but it’s also the convenience of not having to clean up afterwards. I really to hate using the lava soap to clean the grease and dirt off my hands. I’m proud to report that I’m back to changing my own oil after learning a trade secret of my automotive mechanic and the use of nitrile gloves.

Nitrile gloves are really perfect for the garage because now you don’t really have to dread cleaning up. The best part is that these nitrile gloves are cheap enough so I can just throw them out after I’m done and if I run out, I just go to the industrial store or the nearest Walmart. Wearing the nitrile gloves is great because while I work on my automotive vehicle, I’m still able to maintain a good grip of my tools and the material of the glove is meant to protect my hands from most oil-based chemicals. It doesn’t stop with changing oil, you can use these gloves for practically any job.

Personally I like to get the nitrile gloves that feel a little thicker than the latex gloves. The synthetic gloves I get are said to be 5 mils. I tried getting thicker gloves but it makes handling bolts and tools a little more difficult.

Nitrile butadiene rubber, or NBR for short, is superior to latex gloves for being more puncture resistant as well as protecting against oil based chemicals including petroleum. In fact, car transmission belts are usually made from nitrile material because of these physical attributes. It’s no wonder nitrile gloves are an excellent protective tool for protecting mechanics while working on automobiles.