Buy Disposable Laboratory Gloves

Laboratories are filled with chemicals, hazardous materials, sharp or rough objects, very hot or cold temperatures, and other dangerous tools, equipment, and things. Therefore, wearing proper protective equipment is necessary. Order your lab gloves from Glove.com today. 

We are a reputable store featuring a wide collection of high-quality laboratory gloves, available in different sizes and colors. Whatever features you are looking for, insulation, comfort, durability, grip, sustainability, or materials, we have lab gloves for you!

What are lab gloves?

Laboratory gloves, face shields, and headgear are included in the personal protective equipment required in medical, dental, and many healthcare establishments, clinics, and labs. They are also required in science laboratories where chemicals, objects, and other materials are handled, checked, and used. 

It is highly recommended to wear durable safety gloves inside laboratories, especially when handling science lab tools, equipment, and materials. 

How do lab gloves keep us safe?

Healthcare or science laboratories are filled with chemicals, harmful substances, sharp objects, intricate equipment, and other hazardous materials. Hence, it is necessary to wear personal protective equipment like lab gloves to ensure your and your employees’ safety. Here are three main reasons why safety gloves are essential in all laboratories:

Protect your hands

Hands have bones, muscles, tendons, nerve fiber, and skin, all of which are sensitive to harmful substances, tools, and materials. When you and your employees are wearing durable lab gloves, you can prevent any hand injuries and accidents. Remember, technicians usually use needles, glass tools, and sharp objects. When the technician drops glass tools or pokes themselves with contaminated needles, it can lead to contamination.

Prevent chemical burns and stains

When the technician or any personnel in the laboratory manage, use, or handle any lab equipment or materials with bare hands, chemicals, liquids, and substances can spill and overflow into the hands leading to rashes, burns, and stains. This can hurt your skin and hands and leave permanent damage to your skin. It is best to always wear safety gloves inside laboratories to prevent these accidents.

Delay any harmful effects

If you and your employees are wearing safety gloves and you spill strong, harmful, or infectious liquid on your gloves, you have a few seconds to remove the gloves, dispose of the contaminated disposable gloves, and wash your hands to prevent contamination. On the other hand, if you are not wearing any lab gloves, the liquid will spill into your skin and immediately be exposed to contamination.

Types of laboratory gloves

There are different types of lab gloves based on materials. And each type offers different levels of protection against substances and liquids and applications. Always check which safety gloves best fit the tasks and liquids handled in the laboratory. 

Latex Gloves

Latex disposable gloves are a go-to for many lab technicians and managers. They are affordable, durable, accessible, and convenient to use. Latex gloves are comfortable to wear and don’t hinder the movement and dexterity of hands which are crucial for testing and handling chemicals, liquids, and substances.

When it comes to protection, latex gloves are not easy to puncture. They are ideal for handling certain chemicals and mild corrosive materials like acetone, acids, methanol, ethylene glycol, potassium hydroxide, and more.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are perfect for those with latex allergies. These disposable gloves are made from synthetic rubber which can protect the wearer from most infectious substances and chemicals like acids, sealants, oils, etc. Nitrile gloves are also abrasion resistance perfect for handling sharp tools and objects.

Neoprene Gloves

Neoprene gloves offer superior protection against most oils, caustics, acids, solvents, and other mild corrosive materials which are widely used in laboratories. These safety gloves offer an amazing grip and are perfect for handling slippery or wet tools, objects, and materials. 

However, neoprene disposable gloves are not as comfortable, fit, and snagged compared to nitrile and latex gloves. They are also less abrasion, cut, and puncture resistant. 

Coated Fabric Gloves

Coated fabric gloves are commonly made from cotton and coated with other materials. They are used in the construction industry but can also be used in laboratories. Coated fabric safety gloves can provide protection against chafing, dirt, and abrasion while maintaining flexibility and grip. These laboratory gloves can resist moisture, oil, and other chemicals making them perfect for handling slippery and wet tools, equipment, and objects.

Selection criteria

Aside from the material of your lab gloves, here are things you need to consider when shopping for laboratory gloves:

Chemicals

Different materials of lab gloves provide varying protection against chemicals. List down all the chemicals you and your employees handle in the laboratory. Then check for compatibility and which materials can provide protection from the listed chemicals.

Dexterity

When conducting tests, handling substances, and using lab tools, dexterity and precision are essential. If the safety gloves the technician wears hinder their movements, their progress and efficiency can be compromised. It is best to choose the laboratory gloves that will not obstruct your hand movement and efficiency.

Thickness

The gloves’ thickness can also affect the protection level the gloves provide. Liquid and chemicals can permeate through thinner disposable gloves quicker compared to thicker ones. 

Length

The length of the safety gloves will vary depending on how immersed the hands and/or arms will be in harmful substances or where chemicals are most likely to splash.

Size

This is a very important criterion. The size of the lab gloves will greatly affect the wearer’s comfort, dexterity, and precision. If the disposable gloves are too tight, it can lead to hand fatigue. If it's too loose, chemicals can get into the lab gloves and contaminate its interior and hands.

Uses

It is important to wear lab gloves inside laboratories while conducting research, analysis, and testing. The technician or manager is exposed to hazardous materials and sharp objects. Hence, wearing proper personal protective equipment including laboratory gloves is essential. Safety gloves protect the wearer and those around them from harmful chemicals, infections, contamination, and injuries.

Maintenance and disposal

In order to ensure your hands are safe and protected, proper lab gloves practice is a must. Here are a few rules and regulations in laboratories pertaining to safety gloves:

• Wear the right type of gloves.
• Lab gloves shouldn’t be used for more than 2 hours. 
• Wash before and after wearing laboratory gloves.
• Don’t reuse disposable gloves, especially when the integrity is already compromised. 
• For reusable safety gloves, wash, disinfect, and dry them. Check for any physical deterioration before use.
• Remove and wash hands before touching personal items such as phones, pens, computers, etc.
• Don’t wear lab gloves outside of the laboratory. Remove gloves and wash your hands before leaving the lab.

Regulations and standards

Each manufacturer has their own standards, regulations, and tests, here are the three most important tests lab gloves should go through:

Breakthrough Time

The time it takes for chemicals and other harmful substances to travel through the material of the lab gloves. It will start with the chemical placed on the surface of the gloves. How long the chemical is detected inside the glove will be noted down.

Permeation Rate

It includes the absorption of the chemical on the lab gloves’ surface, its diffusion, and de-absorption inside the gloves. If the chemicals didn’t permeate or pass through the material, there is no permeation rate recorded.

Degradation Rating

This pertains to the deterioration of the physical properties of the safety gloves after it gets in contact with the chemical. The rating shows how well the laboratory gloves hold up against chemicals. Some signs can include swelling, discoloration, shrinking, cracking, hardening, etc. 

Order High-Quality Lab Gloves From A Reputable Store

The tasks of lab technicians and managers are critical to the healthcare, medical, food, and other industries. Inside the lab, chemicals, liquids, and materials are researched, checked, and tested to ensure they are safe to use, not contaminated, effective, and more. Some researchers even discover new and revolutionary things inside a science lab! Ensure you and your employees are always safe and protected by ordering the right type of gloves from Gloves.com.

We are a reputable and trustworthy store with years of experience providing high-quality gloves to our clients and customers. Here at Gloves.com, we have an extensive collection of laboratory gloves, made from different materials, in various colors and sizes, all sourced from popular brands! Whether you are searching for affordable safety gloves or hand a brand in mind, we got you covered!

Order your durable lab gloves today to enjoy our fast shipping!