The Many Colors of Gloves

Medical gloves come in a wide variety of colors from white to green, creating a unique challenge for work environments. The many colors of medical gloves can confuse users and result in problems from using the wrong type of glove.

For example, different manufacturers of medical gloves may use different colors for synthetic and latex gloves, which can cause irritations and allergic reactions in some people. Synthetic medical gloves from Manufacturer A may be green-colored, while Manufacturer B prefers to make them tan. An unsuspecting, latex-sensitive worker-assuming all green medical gloves are synthetic-chooses the wrong type of glove and develops an irritation.

Currently, manufacturers of medical gloves aren't bound by law to distinguish gloves by color. The FDA doesn't address glove color differentiation as a requirement. Nor does the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) discuss color in its medical glove standards and other glove-related documents.

But color-coded gloves could become a reality, if the ASTM adopts color standardization of medical gloves among manufacturers. The ASTM guideline would address the coloration of medical gloves to differentiate natural rubber latex gloves from synthetic ones. Now, manufacturers are free to create medical gloves using whatever colors they prefer. Standardized color coding for medical gloves would mean select colors would be reserved for certain types of gloves. For example:

1. Natural rubber latex (NRL) medical glove coloration could be limited to buff, beige, tan, brown and white tones.
2. Synthetic medical gloves could be readily distinguished from NRL with other colors. These medical gloves also could be distinguished by labeling "synthetic" or the base material composition, such as vinyl, on each glove.
3. If it's impossible for manufacturers to follow the color limitations, the presence of latex would have to be designated on all of their latex medical gloves.

Having standardized coloration for medical gloves would make it easier for latex-sensitive workers to maintain a safer work environment. Also, placing "latex" and "non-latex" labels on containers holding medical gloves would also help. These and other precautionary measures could greatly reduce terrible mistakes.

DonTheGlove.com offers the following colored medical gloves: nitrile in premium blue, latex in creamy neutral, synthetic in white and vinyl in clear.