Nitrile Gloves – Exam, Disposable, Black, Purple

There are both similarities and differences between vinyl gloves and nitrile gloves. On a basic level, both gloves are meant to protect your hands. More importantly, both gloves are made from synthetic material. Vinyl, short for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is essentially plastic. Glove manufacturers mix this plastic material with plasticizers to give it the flexibility that is needed. In contrast to vinyl, nitrile material share closer properties to rubber as a synthetic rubber material.

Nitrile gloves are considered to be more versatile in protecting the hands. The material is more durable protecting against punctures better than vinyl gloves. In addition, nitrile gloves have resistance to a wide range of chemicals. Vinyl gloves provide minimal protection against harsh chemicals. For this reason, the medical industry use nitrile gloves when handling chemotherapy drugs such as Triethylenethiophosphoramide and Carmustine. Chemotherapy drugs have alkylating agents that are toxic to normal cells and since coming into contact with these drugs is harmful to healthy individuals, using nitrile exam gloves are a necessary precaution.

When you compare vinyl gloves versus nitrile gloves, you would expect everyone to always use the latter given a choice; however, nitrile gloves are more expensive to purchase. Vinyl gloves are commonly used when minimal protection is needed, especially since nitrile tends to be 2-3 times more expensive than the PVC material. Since vinyl is cheap, this is also used in food preparation gloves. Saving money is not everything though since the primary reason for using gloves in the first place is to provide protection to workers. For this reason, you won’t see any vinyl gloves in factories. In high-risk environments, you are more likely to see nitrile gloves or even work gloves made from a stronger material such as Kevlar gloves.

So if you are still asking which is better: vinyl gloves vs nitrile gloves? I would pick nitrile gloves because of the versatility in its use. If price is not a factor, I will say nitrile gloves in a heartbeat.

When you clean the bathroom, think about what cleaning products you use. Maybe you use Mr. Clean, Pine Sol, Spic and Span, or just use plain old Clorox Bleach. Whatever product you use, what do all these house cleaning products have in common? Letting the cleaning liquids come into direct contact with your skin is bad for you. Nearly all bathroom cleaning products have harsh chemicals like bleach that will damage you skin especially if you forget to wash your hands. Prolonged contact with bleach can result in developing an irritation on your hands. Be sure to remember to protect your hands while handling these housecleaning products. Using nitrile gloves is a perfect housecleaning glove because nitrile material has excellent properties of being resistant to the bad chemicals found in cleaning products.


Remember, when nitrile gloves are used while working with house cleaning products, you should always dispose of the work glove after you use it. Although this synthetic rubber glove may appear to be good, the integrity of the glove will most likely be changed. Different chemicals have a wide range of effects on gloves. Depending on the brand, nitrile gloves have a consistent level of protection of how long it takes for a specific chemical to penetrate the barrier a glove provides. “Washing” a nitrile glove after using it does not restore the glove to its original condition.  Heed our advice on throwing away the nitrile glove after a single use.

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.

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.

Nitrile gloves usage has increased as the medical industry adopted this material as the synthetic glove of choice. Known for protecting well against oil-based chemicals, nitrile gloves are used commonly within oncology areas to protect against chemotherapy drugs. In addition, nitrile gloves are known for their strength and durability as they are used more in high-stress environments. Since nitrile is latex-free, hospitals have choosing nitrile exam gloves over latex counterparts.

Exam Gloves Nitrile

The medical industry is the primary consumer of disposable gloves with over $700 million in annual sales within the United States alone. With nearly 1/3 market share in healthcare sales, nitrile examination glove business is growing every day. Nitrile exam gloves are medical grade.

Industrial Nitrile Gloves

Industrial nitrile gloves are widely used in manufacturing plants and chemical processing facilities. The primary purpose of using industrial versions of nitrile gloves is to provide the worker with protection against harsh chemicals.

Disposable Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are typically used for single use only, meaning the gloves are disposed of once used. Disposable nitrile gloves have gained popularity as the increased demand allowed economies of scale to reduce production costs making the product more affordable. All nitrile examination gloves are considered disposable gloves.

Black Gloves Nitrile

Why are some nitrile gloves black? Are these special gloves with different specifications? Interestingly enough, the color black does not add any additional protective value to the wearer of the nitrile glove. The quality of nitrile gloves will differ based on the product specifications and can be made into a black glove anytime.

Purple Gloves Nitrile

The purple glove is the most popular nitrile exam glove nurses will recognize. Kimberly-Clark has marketed their flagship nitrile glove as the Purple Glove. The purple nitrile glove is branded as a quality exam glove for medical professionals.

Surgical Gloves Nitrile

Surgical nitrile gloves are medical-grade gloves used specifically for procedures in the operating room. Nitrile surgical gloves are made to ensure surgeons and nurses have the highest level of comfort.

Industrial & Medical Nitrile Gloves

Ansell – Exam Gloves
Nitrax-Tex E.P. Powder-Free Nitrile Exam Gloves
Micro-Touch Nitrile Powder-Free Exam Gloves

Cardinal – Exam Gloves
Esteem Stretchy Nitrile Gloves
Esteem XP 12” Nitrile Gloves

Kimberly-Clark – Exam Gloves
SafeSkin Blue Nitrile Gloves
SafeSkin Purple Nitrile Gloves
Sterling Silver Nitrile Gloves

Medline Industries – Exam Gloves
Accutouch PF Nitrile Gloves
Aloetouch 9” PF Nitrile Gloves
Aloetouch 12” PF Nitrile Gloves
Mediguard PF Nitrile Gloves
Sensicare Silk Nitrile Gloves
Sensicare Stretch Nitrile Gloves