Choosing the right exam glove impacts safety, cost, and patient comfort. Here's a breakdown of the three main options.
Nitrile Gloves
Latex-free, puncture-resistant, and increasingly the industry standard. Best for chemotherapy handling, general exams, and any setting where latex allergy is a concern.
Latex Gloves
Excellent elasticity and tactile sensitivity, often preferred for procedures requiring fine dexterity. However, latex allergy risk means many facilities are phasing them out in favor of nitrile.
Vinyl Gloves
Most economical option, suitable for low-risk, short-duration tasks like food handling or basic non-hazardous exams. Lower barrier protection than nitrile or latex.
Recommendation
For most clinical and wound care settings, nitrile offers the best balance of protection, dexterity, and allergy safety. Reserve vinyl for low-risk administrative or housekeeping tasks.
Stock multiple sizes (S-XL) to ensure proper fit across your care team — ill-fitting gloves reduce dexterity and increase puncture risk.