Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Choose the right surgical gloves for the right task

Surgical gloves are used as a protective gear by surgeons and other medical professionals while coming in contact with the patients. There are many varieties of surgical gloves, and depending upon the needs of the professional health care users, these gloves can be picked. Choosing the right surgical gloves could be a daunting task with a plethora of options open. Keeping in mind the protection level, surgical gloves need to be selected. Apart from protection level, find out whether the gloves can fit your hands perfectly.
Medical gloves are of various types, latex gloves, nitrile gloves, vinyl gloves, and synthetic gloves. Each type serves a purpose and based on the application, you can pick a pair of gloves that suits you the best. Apart from these, there are specialty surgical gloves for microsurgery and orthopedic surgeries.
Latex gloves are durable and fall under the high-tactile sensitivity group. They are made of natural rubber latex that gives a smooth finish. These gloves are ambidextrous – double faced. In case, you are dealing with blood and other bio hazards, then latex gloves could be the best option. They are an age old choice and are still considered the perfect alternative when it comes to barrier protection.
Nitrile gloves are ideal to protect from chemical reactions and also act as an excellent barricade from infections. As the name goes, they are made from 100% nitrile formulation and have no latex, meaning it does not contain natural rubber. Similar to latex gloves, they are ambidextrous, cuff beaded, odorless, and the surface is textured. If you are allergic to latex, then it is time you switch to nitrile gloves. Another advantage of using nitrile gloves is that they are free from powder, but can be used with lotion and does not tear easily while using sharp objects. Nitrile gloves give you a great grip and are highly recommended if you deal with chemicals often.
Vinyl gloves are made of polyvinyl chloride and hence the name. Similar to latex and nitrile gloves, they are double faced and cuff beaded, which make the surface smooth. The reason why prefer vinyl gloves is that they are cheaper when compared to latex and nitrile gloves and at the same time, provide maximum protection from chemicals. According to a recent statistic, around 6 percent of the public are allergic to latex and hence, vinyl medical examination gloves are considered to be a safer option.
Synthetic gloves have the same protection grade when compared to vinyl or nitrile and is safe on skin. They are elastic and easy to wear. Their other benefits include durability, flexibility, and help minimize hand strain.

While choosing surgical gloves from medical supply stores, give priority to the usage and quality, rather than the price, as your life is at stake.

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