What are latex free gloves?
Latex free gloves are disposable gloves that are made from materials other than natural rubber latex.
The most significant problem with latex is that it can cause an allergic reaction which can develop with increased exposure to latex. Latex allergy has become increasingly common in recent years and for this reason the demand for latex free gloves has arisen, not only for healthcare workers but for many other situations.
What are the alternatives?
Nitrile gloves are not as strong as their latex counterparts but have better tear and puncture resistance. They also offer superior resistance to many chemicals. They are widely used in medical and non-medical applications and are manufactured in a wide range of colours including blue, purple, green and black. They do not have the tactile sensitivity of latex gloves so are not suitable for surgery. They are relatively expensive.
Vinyl gloves are the low cost alternative to nitrile but have less strength and lower resistance to chemicals. As with other glove types there is a wide variety in quality according to intended use but they are an excellent choice where economy is a priority. They are widely used in health care as well as cleaning and food preparation.
Neoprene and isoprene are used for surgical gloves as latex free alternatives.
Do latex free gloves have any disadvantages?
The main drawback is reduced tactile sensitivity of the glove. This can be extremely important, particularly in surgery where latex gloves are still sometimes used. The exception is isoprene (polyisoprene), a synthetic material with the same chemical structure as latex but this is extremely expensive. Another disadvantage is that the materials that they are made of, unlike latex, are not biodegradable so disposal of latex free gloves can be a problem.