Glove durability is an important issue in healthcare settings, as gloves protect the hands from a variety of hazardous substances and other threats. Poly vinyl chloride gloves—often referred to as simply "vinyl gloves"—are the most economical option for a wide range of work tasks, but they offer the lowest degree of durability, according to government researchers.

For example, laboratory testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that vinyl gloves have a much lower durability level than other glove types. The FDA research, conducted in Winchester Massachusetts, studied the strength of 10 types of medical examination gloves using tests that were designed to simulate actual clinical use. Various tests were conducted involving a total of 100 vinyl exam gloves from two to four manufacturers.

One set of vinyl exam gloves was tested using a "glove durability" method. A second set of gloves was worn and conditioned using a simulated clinical method. The third set consisted of a control set of gloves that were not stressed at all. The strength of the vinyl exam gloves was measured by elasticity and resistance to tearing, puncturing and breaking.

All the disposable gloves were also water-leak tested as the last step. The test consisted of filling a glove with 1,000 ml of water, suspending it for two minutes and then looking for any leakage.

Test results revealed that the glove durability method created failures at similar rates to the simulated clinical method. The majority of the flaws were located in the finger regions of the gloves, specifically the thumb and index finger. Durability of powdered and powder-free vinyl exam gloves was inferior to that of other glove types tested, with failure rates ranging from 24 to 42 percent. This compares to 3 to 17 percent for the other glove types tested. The sturdiness of the vinyl gloves was also affected by the powdered condition of the gloves and users having long fingernails. In addition, wearing rings resulted in a significantly higher rate of failures than not wearing rings.

Use of Vinyl Exam Gloves
Because of their low durability, disposable vinyl glove products have an increased potential for punctures and tears. This gives them limited functionality for handling many chemical hazards that may be encountered in the healthcare workplace. They can be used effectively with acids, alkalis, fats and alcohols, but they‘re not hardy enough to withstand many other chemicals.

Vinyl gloves are a good alternative for low-risk, short-term procedures that require less strength and protection. They offer the significant advantage of being latex-free, which makes them ideal for workers with latex sensitivity.

Like any type of glove, vinyl exam gloves are most effective when worn for appropriate tasks. According to a leading manufacturer, vinyl disposable gloves should not be used for tasks involving the following: risk of infection, exposure to bodily fluids, dispensing general medication, and administering routine oral care and noninvasive general physical examinations.

DonTheGlove.com distributes vinyl exam gloves in lightly powdered and powder-free.