FAQ

Vinyl Gloves are manufactured from Polyvinyl Chloride Plastisol and are a popular choice for users who find themselves sensitive to Latex proteins or allergenic compounds. The material itself is extremely soft and provides a snug and comfortable fit. Vinyl gloves provide a reasonable resistance to oil and grease, but are not as strong or as resistant to tearing as Latex or Nitrile gloves. For this reason, they are often used for lower risk non-invasive procedures.

Our range of Vinyl gloves are ideal for use in a variety of applications, and our Economy Vinyl Powder Free Gloves combine great value with high performance.

Order your Vinyl Gloves here.

Nitrile Gloves are manufactured from a synthetic polymer known as Acrylonitrile-butadiene and are rapidly gaining popularity for their superior strength and resistance to tears and punctures. Nitrile gloves also provide excellent resistance to oil and grease, as well as some aqueous chemical solutions. The material offers a comparable feel to Latex gloves but contains none of the proteins known to aggravate sensitivity to Natural Rubber Latex. Nitrile gloves are slightly more expensive than Vinyl and Latex gloves, but can last longer due to their superior resilience. Subsequently they can often be a more cost-effective option for those who use disposable gloves frequently or in large volumes. Our Medical Grade Powder Free Nitrile Gloves is a great performing disposable glove.

Order your Nitrile Gloves here.

Latex Gloves are constructed from Natural Rubber Latex. The physical properties of the material offer protection from bio-hazardous risks, whilst superior elasticity and tensile strength provide unsurpassed user comfort and a reasonable resistance to cuts and abrasions. Being manufactured from a naturally occurring substance, Latex gloves possess greater biodegradability and are kinder to the environment than Vinyl and Nitrile gloves, which are manufactured from man-made synthetic materials. Latex gloves are generally cost-effective and our Medical Grade Disposable Latex Gloves offer all the performance benefits of latex at a great value price.

Order your Latex Gloves here.

A drawback to using Latex gloves is that some users find themselves allergic to the proteins within the Natural Rubber they are constructed from. This can cause itching, peeling, dry skin and on occasions a burning sensation. Some of our Latex gloves range have undergone a process called ‘Chlorination’ – whereby gloves are treated with Chlorine and Water, then neutralised with Ammonia. This creates a smooth inner surface to the glove by reducing the natural tackiness of the Latex. In turn, this reduces protein levels to below the limit of detection. Many Latex sensitive users find they can use chlorinated Latex gloves without provoking an adverse reaction. You can view our range of chlorinated gloves here: Chlorinated & Low Protein Latex Gloves.

If you are unsure or still find you are allergic, Vinyl or Nitrile gloves may be a better choice for you as they contain no latex proteins at all.

Most of our Latex, Vinyl and Nitrile gloves are available in powdered and powder free varieties. Powdered gloves are covered with a light dusting of a basic corn starch powder which helps to aid donning of the glove and also helps to absorb perspiration. Some users find this to be beneficial and increase comfort during prolonged usage. In clinical environments, powder free gloves may be preferable to minimise the risk of cross contamination occurring through natural dispersion of the powder.

Our disposable gloves are regulated under two categories within the ‘AQL’ International Quality Standard: Medical or Non-Medical. ‘AQL’ is an abbreviation for Acceptable Quality Level and denotes a statistical measure of the consistency or quality predictor of manufactured goods. Within the context of disposable gloves this specifically refers to the prevalence of pinholes and the barrier protection confidence level. The lower the AQL number, the higher the quality of the glove:

• An AQL of 1.5 or lower refers to a glove that is fit for medical purposes
• An AQL of 4.0 refers to a glove that is fit for non-medical or industrial purposes

Medical grade gloves provide a more effective barrier and are therefore better suited for higher risk or more demanding applications. We also supply high quality Sterile Vinyl Gloves and Sterile Latex Gloves which should always be used for invasive procedures. Our Standard non-sterile Latex, Vinyl and Nitrile Gloves all provide AQL 1.5 medical grade quality at prices that reflect fantastic value for money.

Take a look at our huge range of gloves here.