Laboratory Gloves

Like face shields and headgear, laboratory gloves are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) used in many healthcare facilities. They’re also worn in scientific laboratories to ensure safety when handling chemicals, sharp objects, biological agents, and other hazardous materials.

Lab gloves come in many different materials, each offering varying levels of protection against different laboratory hazards. Latex and nitrile are two of the most common materials used in laboratory gloves.

Latex is a go-to glove material for many lab technicians and managers. These gloves are comfortable to wear and won’t restrict hand movements, making them ideal for intricate tasks requiring precision. They’re also chemical-resistant, protecting against mild corrosive materials like acetone, acids, methanol, ethylene glycol, and potassium hydroxide.

On the other hand, nitrile gloves are perfect for users with latex allergies. These disposable gloves are made from synthetic rubber, which offers heavy-duty protection against chemicals and biohazards. Because they’re puncture-resistant, nitrile gloves are ideal for handling sharp objects like needles and broken glass.

Lab gloves serve as a protective barrier between the wearer’s hands and potentially harmful materials, including chemicals and sharp objects.

These gloves provide skin and hand protection by preventing corrosion, rashes, burns, and lacerations. Gloves also play a crucial role in preventing the transmission of pathogens, bacteria, or viruses that may be present in the biological samples commonly found in laboratory environments.

Disposable lab gloves also delay harmful effects in the event of a spill. If a glove comes into contact with a corrosive or infectious liquid, the wearer has a few seconds to remove and dispose of the glove, preventing direct contact with the skin. It could be argued that when it comes to picking lab gloves, price should be the least consideration. 

Modern disposable nitrile gloves are the best gloves for use in labs. Nitrile is more resistant to punctures and chemicals than other glove materials, including latex and vinyl.

This strength makes them ideal for laboratory uses involving chemicals or biological materials. They’re also latex-free, so they won’t cause allergic reactions for wearers with latex sensitivities. Many of these gloves also feature a textured finger surface, providing a secure grip for wet and oily applications.

You can find a wide variety of high-quality gloves on Gloves.com. We offer a selection of powder-free gloves in various materials, sizes, and colors suitable for performing multiple lab applications and ensuring safety and comfort for all wearers.

Whether you’re looking for durable nitrile gloves for chemical resistance or thinner latex gloves for precision work, our selection has you covered.

Exam-grade or medical-grade lab gloves are not sterile like surgical-grade gloves, which are only necessary for invasive procedures where cross-contamination is a severe risk. Modern exam-grade lab gloves protect against infectious material, chemical contamination, and other potential hazards in medical and laboratory settings.

Notably, exam-grade gloves must meet a higher quality standard than gloves used in the food service and hospitality industry. Unlike industrial-grade gloves, the FDA requires that exam-grade gloves meet an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of 2.5, meaning no more than 2.5% of the gloves in any batch can have defects.