title: Latex and vinyl nonsterile examination gloves: status report on laboratory evaluation of defects by physical and biological methods.
abstract: We have reported previously (H. R. Kotilainen, J. P. Brinker, J. L. Avato, and N. M. Gantz, Arch. Intern. Med. 149:2749-2753, 1989) that the quality of nonsterile examination gloves available for clinical use may be extremely variable. In view of the concern over human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus transmission to health care workers, the continuing variability of gloves available for use, and the need for a simple and safe test, we have evaluated 2,500 vinyl (five brands) and 2,000 latex (four brands) gloves by the 300-ml and the newly proposed 1,000-ml water tests and for permeability to herpes simplex virus type 1 and poliovirus type 1, respectively. While all 300-ml watertight gloves were unlikely to leak herpes simplex virus type 1 (1.3% vinyl; 0.5% latex), poliovirus was recovered much more frequently (8.9% vinyl, 6.1% latex). In all gloves that passed the 1,000-ml test, herpes simplex virus type 1 was not recovered. Poliovirus was recovered infrequently (1.4% vinyl, 1.5% latex). Preliminary analyses suggest that the 1,000-ml water test has significantly increased sensitivity over the 300-ml water test in the detection of small holes in both vinyl and latex gloves that may allow the passage of viral particles. Gloves that pass a 1,000-ml water challenge are unlikely to allow the passage of a small virus such as poliovirus. Given that human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 are larger particles than poliovirus, gloves that pass the 1,000-ml water test theoretically could provide better protection.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Department, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kotilainen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Avato
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gantz
mesh_terms: D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D010539:Permeability; D017955:Poliovirus; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus; D014780:Viruses
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D011145:Polyvinyls