Latex is made from natural rubber which is derived from the sap of the Hevea brasiliensis, a South American rubber tree. The majority of latex is harvested from rubber tree plantations in the Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Farmers extract the milky white latex sap from mature rubber trees through a process called tapping. Once the sap is collected, it must be chemically treated through a complex process called vulcanization which was patented in the United States by Charles Goodyear in 1844. Vulcanizing natural rubber, converts the polymers into a more durable elastic material known as latex. This is how latex gloves are made.

Elasticity is one of the key characteristics of latex, making it an ideal material for disposable gloves. In fact, latex gloves are more elastic than nitrile gloves and feature better puncture resistance than vinyl gloves. Latex closely conforms to the hand to offer the best fit, feel and dexterity while providing excellent strength and durability. Additionally, latex exam gloves are FDA approved for medical use and provides an excellent barrier protection against bloodborne pathogens and other environmental contaminants. This is why latex gloves are the most widely used disposable gloves for medical and exam applications.

Disposable latex gloves are perhaps the most common product that comes to mind when thinking of latex. However, latex is found in many common products such as balloons, rubber bands, spandex and elastics in clothing, erasers, bandages and adhesives, and many more household products. In certain individuals repeated exposure to latex can cause latex allergies or sensitivity  to latex products. The repeated use of products containing latex on a regular basis, may trigger sensitivity and some may develop an allergic reaction known as contact dermatitis. As the use of latex products grows the rise of latex allergies have become more apparent in patients. Nitrile or vinyl gloves are an alternative choice for disposable glove users that have latex allergies. These gloves are made from synthetic materials and do not contain latex proteins.

Latex disposable gloves offer excellent protection and performance in a variety of applications and across a broad range of industries. Latex disposable gloves are a popular choice in both the industrial and medical industries and are widely used in applications in medical and dental, child care and senior care, food service and food processing, janitorial and sanitation, automotive and manufacturing industries.