Medical grade disposable gloves are an essential piece of protective equipment used to protect healthcare professionals, patients, laboratory workers, and other individuals from potential infectious diseases and other germs. These gloves are designed to provide a barrier between the user's skin and the patient or materials they are handling, helping to prevent the spread of germs and other contaminants. But how are medical gloves tested? How do we know that these gloves are more safe than non-medical gloves? There are several types of tests that are conducted throughout the manufacturing process, and there are regulations in place to ensure exam gloves are properly tested in the United States.

Regulation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating medical grade disposable gloves in the United States. The FDA sets standards for the materials and manufacturing processes used to make these gloves, and also sets standards for the labeling and packaging of the gloves. All medical gloves sold in the United States have to get a 510(k) premarket approval from the FDA.

Medical gloves are considered as a Class I reserved medical device by the FDA, and are generally tested to ensure performance. The criteria for these tests are biocompatibility, physical properties and leak resistance.

Additionally, the FDA conducts random inspections of manufacturing facilities to ensure that they are following good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and that the gloves they are producing are safe and effective for use.

Testing

Before a medical exam glove can be sold in the United States, that glove must go through a series of tests to ensure that it meets certain safety and performance standards. These tests are conducted by independent, third-party testing laboratories that are accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The accreditation is often abbreviated to ANSI/ISEA 105 and is specific to the United States.

One of the most important tests for disposable gloves is the physical properties test. This test measures the gloves' thickness, tensile strength, and puncture resistance to ensure that they are strong enough to protect the user. The gloves are also tested for their barrier protection properties, which measures the gloves' ability to prevent the passage of liquids and microorganisms through the glove material. Gloves are also tested for their Abrasion resistance and cut resistance.

Another important test is the chemical resistance test, which measures the gloves' resistance to various chemicals and solvents that they may come into contact with during use. The gloves are also tested for their biocompatibility, which measures the gloves' ability to cause an adverse reaction when in contact with the skin.

Shop Medical gloves you can trust

Medical grade disposable gloves are a critical piece of PPE for healthcare professionals and other individuals who come into contact with potentially hazardous materials. These gloves are tested and regulated by independent laboratories and the FDA to ensure that they meet certain safety and performance standards. By following these standards, the gloves can protect users from harmful contaminants and germs. All of our medical exam grade gloves are certified and comply with FDA regulations to ensure safety and efficiency. Check out our collection of medical grade gloves designed to meet your needs. Available in Vinyl, Latex and Nitrile.