Medical and Industrial-Grade Disposable Nitrile Glove: What's the Difference?

Choosing the proper disposable nitrile glove depends on the application. The two main categories of nitrile gloves are industrial and medical grade. This section of the guide will expand on those two glove grades.

INDUSTRIAL GRADE:

Industrial-grade nitrile gloves are best suited for applications that involve handling harsh chemicals and solvents. Industries that would use this grade of nitrile glove include automotive, janitorial and food services.

Along with chemical resistance, an important feature of industrial-grade gloves is a high level of puncture resistance.

While industries like food services have specific requirements that gloves need to meet, they are not as stringent as medical-grade gloves.

MEDICAL GRADE:

Medical gloves are used in areas where there’s a risk of contact with blood-borne pathogens or environmental contaminants. Also known as examiner gloves, medical gloves are used in hospitals, laboratories, clean rooms and dental offices.

Since the risks are so high, medical grade gloves must be rigorously tested and have to meet specific guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To read the full document “Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Medical Glove Guidance Manual” click here.

Medical-grade gloves, like any medical device, are regulated in the United States by the FDA, which has authority to regulate medical devices before and after they reach the marketplace. Medical devices can be anything from dental floss to heart valves.