Updated: January 3, 2025
What are Nitrile Gloves and Why Use Them?
Nitrile gloves are a remanufactured version of latex gloves. The glove material is a compound of synthetic materials that are chemical-resistant, puncture-resistant, and offer durable wear. The combination consists of acrylonitrile and butadiene, but the core is plain ole latex rubber. The reprocessing removes all of the rubber proteins, making them virtually latex-free. These gloves are Phthalate-free and BPA-free. This product is waterproof, greaseproof, oilproof, and long-wearing. These gloves are durable enough to use for auto mechanics, industrial hand protection, and health care. This article explores the utility of these medical-grade gloves and rank orders the top ten selling nitrile exam gloves.
List of the Top 10 Best Nitrile Gloves For Sale in Rank Order
The list below rank orders the best nitrile examination gloves. These products are the most searched on the Internet by brand name and are the most in-demand. Curad is the low-cost leader. Halyard offers three of the best selling brands among the top four products.
CURAD Niitrile protective gloves cost as little as 9-cents each and come in 4 different sizes. They are thick and chemotherapy safe. They protect the hands and wrists with chemically resistant materials. The gloves are fully textured to provide for good gripping power. The glove offers 4.9 mils of thickness to provide superior puncture resistance.
Features
- Chemical Resistant
- Durable
- Resistant to Household Bleach
- Resistant to Citric Acid
- Resistant to Sodium Hydroxide
- Ambidextrous
- Disposable
- Provides a Solid Barrier
- Protection Against Caustic Substances
Specifications
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Light Blue
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Fully Textured
#2 Halyard Sterling
These exam gloves offer high tensile strength and are powder-free. They are resistant to chemicals and provide superior dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Halyard offers ambidextrous gloves that stretch to the shape of individual hands. The box allows for dispensing with two different size openings. The first smaller size opening helps to prevent waste by dropping gloves when the container is full. The larger cut-out allows users to find and remove gloves when the box is half full or less.
Features
- Disposable
- Durable
- Textured Fingertips
- High Tensile Strength
- Stretchable
- Ambidextrous
- Tactile Sensitivity
- Protective Barrier
- SmartPull Dispenser Box
Specifications
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Grey
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- Brand: Halyard Sterling
Halyard Exam Goves Offer Protection for Your Hands (1:13 minutes)
Halyard Additional Information
Sell Sheet for Halyard Sterling
Technical Data Sheet for Halyard Sterling
#3 Halyard Purple
Halyard nitrile gloves meet government safety requirements for health care workers. Manufactured by Kimberly Clark, this product offers hand and wrist protection from fluid and chemical exposure. The design of these gloves protects against bacteria and blood-borne viruses. Beaded cuffs provide an excellent seal. Textured fingertips offer dexterity and tactile sensitivity for precision instrument handling.
Features
- Disposable
- Comfortable Fit
- Protects Against Chemicals
- Protects Against Waste
- Textured Fingertips
- Offers Dexterity
- Durable
Specifications
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Purple
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- Brand: Halyard Purple
Halyard Nitrile Exam Gloves with SmartPull Dispenser Review (0:50 minutes)
Halyard Purple Additional Information
Sell Sheet for the Halyard Purple
Technical Sheet for the Halyard Purple
#4 Halyard Lavender
Halyard Lavender offers flexible gloves that provide a superior fit. They are strong to withstand chemicals, hazardous fluids and resist punctures. This product meets government ASTM and ISO standards. Halyard Lavender resists healthcare chemicals to protect the user's hands. An excellent gripping surface keeps a firm hold on tools and provides for precision work. They are a favorite for dentistry and physical exams.
Features
- Textured Fingertips
- Ambidextrous
- Disposable
- Durable
- SmartPull Dispensing
- Withstands Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde
- Stands Up To Povidone Iodine and Quaternary Detergent
- Protects During Medication Dispensing
- Used in General Dentistry
- Great for Specimen Container Transport
- SmartPull Dispensing
- Improved Grip Surface
Specifications
- Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Lavender
- Length: 9.5-Inch
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- Certifications: ASTM and ISO
- Brand: Halyard Lavender
Halyard Lavendar Additional Information
Sell Sheet for Halyard Lavender
Technical Sheet for Halyard Lavender
#5 Skintx Nitrile Exam Glove
Skintx gloves are 100% nitrile. They come in six different sizes to allow for a comfortable fit. These exam gloves meet stringent medical guidelines for working with patients and for protecting the health care provider. They also meet FDA standards for working with food. Skintx protective gloves offer dexterity to hold tools or instruments.
Features
- Biocompatibility Friendly
- 100% Nitrile (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene)
- Ambidextrous
- Fully Textured
- Superior Strength
- Tactile Sensitive
- Comfortable Fit
- Puncture Resistant
Specifications
- Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
- Color: Blue
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Fully Textured
- FDA Approved Materials
- ASTM Standards: Conforms to D6319 and EN455
- ISO Standards: ISO9001
SKINTX Review (1:35 minutes)
#6 Adenna Shadow
Manufactured by Adenna, these gloves are a favorite for first responders, including law enforcement, correctional facilities, fire departments, and homeland security. They come in black to assist in identifying unsafe light-colored substances. This product is thick and rugged to stand up to manufacturing, packaging, and light industrial applications. They resist punctures, tears, and chemicals. The textured surface offers excellent dexterity and a firm grip for wet and dry usage.
Features
- Disposable
- Durable
- Thick Protection from Tears and Punctures
- Textured
- Excellent Dexterity
- Rugged
- Durable
Specifications
- Size: Small
- Color: Black
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Fully Textured
- Thickness: 6-mil at Fingertips
- Brand: Shadow
Adenna Shadow Review (0:48 minutes)
Adenna Shadow Additional Information
Material Safety Data Sheet for the Adenna Shadow
#7 Hospeco ProWorks
Hospeco manufactures the ProWorks Nitrile Gloves. They are powder-free with textured fingers. This product features beaded cuffs that seal out contaminants and fluids. The FDA approves this protective garment for use in food handling. Its durable construction lends itself to multiple uses in the home, from cleaning to working in the garage.
Features
- Disposable
- Durable
- Offers Superior Visibility
- Perfect for Food Handling
- Standard Length
- Textured
- No Residue
Specifications
- Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
- Color: Orange
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- 5-mil Thickness
- Brand: Sterling
Hospeco ProWorks Additional Information
Hospeco Sell Sheet for ProWorks
#8 Microflex UltraForm
Microflex UltraForm is compatible with many work applications, including dental, healthcare, EMS, industrial safety, laboratory, law enforcement, manufacturing, crime scene investigations, biotechnologies, pharmaceutical, and cleaning. The design incorporates ErgoForm technology to support musculoskeletal health. They reduce stress and hand fatigue. The nitrile formulation is soft and flexible to conform to the user's hands and motions. To many users, it is like a second skin to protect hands from hazards.
Features
- Disposable
- Durable
- Ergoform Design
- Designed to Prevent Exposure to Chemotherapy Drugs
- Conforms to Hand Shape
- Less Hand Fatigue
- Reduced Stress
- Multi-Use
- Ambidextrous
- Textured Fingertips
Specifications
- Sizes: X-Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Blue
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- ISO Compliance: 13485
- ASTM Compliance: D6319, D3767, D5151, D 412-06a
- Brand: Microflex Ultraform
Microflex Ultraform Review (5:16 minutes)
Microflex Additional Information
Size Chart and Sell Sheet for the Microflex Ultraform
Microflex Ultraform Information Sheet
#9 Pulse Nitrile
The Pulse is a lighter and thinner version of the nitrile glove. It is highly flexible and conforming to the hand's shape, providing a fit that is elastic and comfortable. The glove's slim design supports the best precision and control when wielding surgical instruments or tools. These gloves protect against chemotherapy drugs and have a length of 9.44 inches. The fingertips have a textured surface for gripping devices.
Features
- Textured
- Low Modulus
- Soft
- Comfortable Fit
- Wet/Dry Grip
- Disposable
- Durable
- Ambidextrous
- Flexibility
- Form Fitting
- Lighter and Thinner Version
- Excellent Grip
- No Residue
Specifications
- Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Color: Blue
- Length: 9.5-Inch
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Surface
- Brand: Pulse
- Manufacturer: Innovative Healthcare Corporation (IHC)
Pulse Nitrile Gloves Additional Information
IHC Information Sheet for Pulse
#10 NITRILECARE Exam Gloves
CAREPLUS NITRILECARE Exam Gloves are 3.5 mils thick to safeguard the hands from harsh chemicals, including massage oils, petroleum solvents, chemotherapy drugs, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and mild corrosives. They form a powerful barrier to allow users to handle infectious materials, blood-borne pathogens, and highly contaminated liquids and materials. These gloves are powder-free and not made with natural latex rubber to remove possible skin reactions and irritation. The nitrile material is durable and stretchable to accommodate workflows and movement.
Features
- Super Soft and Stretchy
- Tactile Sensitivity
- High Tensile Strength
- Textured Grip
- Beaded Cuff
- Disposable
- Durable
- Quality Tested
Specifications
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- Thickness: 3.5 Mils
- Color: Blue
- Powdered: No
- Sterile: No
- Cuff: Beaded
- Surface: Textured Fingertips
- Brand: NITRILECARE
- Manufacturer: CAREPLUS
Other Exam Glove Products For Sale
Top Nitrile Glove Brands in Rank Order
- Microflex
- Halyard
- Diamond
- Curad
- Skintx
- Adenna
- Hospeco
- Dynarex
- Accutouch
- SensiCare
Nitrile Examination Gloves Profile
Advantages of Nitrile Gloves
Disposable nitrile gloves are a common choice as a chemical and physical barrier for health care, first responders, and industry workers. These protective products are available in several types, such as low-modulus, medical-grade, low filler, and cleanroom products.1 Over the past decade, nitrile gloves are replacing latex gloves to prevent allergic reactions to latex protein. Over the preceding decade, a significant latex allergy reaction occurred to healthcare and laboratory personnel. Nitrile gloves offer comparable protection for biological and chemical threats as latex gloves but without the hazard of allergic reactions. Nitrile additionally offers more puncture protection.2
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do exam gloves protect from hazardous materials?
A medical study of nitrile rubber, latex polyurethane, and neoprene gloves found that they were impervious to 18 antineoplastic drugs in most cases.3 Another study found that nitrile offer better protection than latex or vinyl for dental acrylates.4 Other studies find that chemical permeation varies between brands and the thickness of the material.5 Against hazardous blood transmission, a study found that a single layer of nitrile gloves are superior to single layer latex gloves.6 And lastly, the Journal of Emergency Nursing cites a study in which the best protection for hands against hazardous materials in emergency departments is using an internal layer of latex gloves with an exterior layer of nitrile gloves. 7
How does dexterity for latex gloves compare with the best nitrile gloves for medical use?
Latex gloves offer more fine finger dexterity than nitrile gloves. For gross dexterity, the two gloves are equivalent.8
Are exam gloves potentially dangerous, particularly to healthcare workers?
Occupational dermatitis to personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly to gloves, mainly occurs in healthcare workers. They are all irritant or allergic contact dermatitis (eczema and contact urticaria). Prolonged glove-wearing by healthcare workers favors skin irritation of the hands and wrists. It is essential to consider the characteristics and materials of gloves used in the medical field. Rubber additives are the main allergens in gloves. Latex or natural rubber remains by far the most frequent cause for occupational contact urticaria from gloves.9
Footnotes
- 1 Phalen, Robert N., and Weng Kee Wong. Integrity of disposable nitrile exam gloves exposed to simulated movement. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 8.5 (2011): 289-299. (Last Accessed November-25-2020)
- 2 Sawyer, J. O., and Allan Bennett. Comparing the level of dexterity offered by latex and nitrile SafeSkin gloves. Annals of Occupational Hygiene 50.3 (2006): 289-296. (Last Accessed November-25-2020)
- 3 Connor, Thomas H. Permeability of nitrile rubber, latex, polyurethane, and neoprene gloves to 18 antineoplastic drugs. American journal of health-system pharmacy 56.23 (1999): 2450-2453. (Last Accessed December-1-2020)
- 4 Andersson, Thomas, Magnus Bruze, and Bert Björkner. In vivo testing of the protection of gloves against acrylates in dentin‐bonding systems on patients with known contact allergy to acrylates. Contact Dermatitis 41.5 (1999): 254-259. (Last Accessed December-1-2020)
- 5 Brown, Brittany Claire, et al. Chemical permeation of similar disposable nitrile gloves exposed to volatile organic compounds with different polarities: Part 1: Product variation. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 17.4 (2020): 165-171. (Last Accessed December-1-2020)
- 6 Mansouri, Massoud, et al. Comparison of blood transmission through latex and nitrile glove materials. Occupational medicine 60.3 (2010): 205-210. (Last Accessed December-1-2020)
- 7 Gough, Aidan R., and Karen Markus. Hazardous materials protections in ED practice: Laws and logistics. Journal of Emergency Nursing 15.6 (1989): 477-480. (Last Accessed December-1-2020)
- 8 Sawyer, J. O., and Allan Bennett. Comparing the level of dexterity offered by latex and nitrile SafeSkin gloves. Annals of Occupational Hygiene 50.3 (2006): 289-296. (Last Accessed November-25-2020)
- 9 Cleenewerck, Marie-Bernadette. Update on medical and surgical gloves. European Journal of Dermatology 20.4 (2010): 434-442. (Last Accessed November-25-2020)
Medical Studies
Klingner, Thomas D., and Mark F. Boeniger. A critique of assumptions about selecting chemical-resistant gloves: a case for workplace evaluation of glove efficacy. Applied occupational and environmental hygiene 17.5 (2002): 360-367. (Last Accessed June-1o-2020)- Mercer, R. Brian, et al. Occupational health hazards to the ultrasonographer and their possible prevention. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 10.4 (1997): 363-366. (Last Accessed June-1o-2020)
- Mellström, Gunh A., and Anders Boman. Protective gloves. Irritant Dermatitis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006. 409-419. (Last Accessed June-1o-2020)
- Chao, Keh-Ping, Pak-Hing Lee, and Min-Jet Wu. Organic solvents permeation through protective nitrile gloves. Journal of hazardous materials 99.2 (2003): 191-201. (Last Accessed June-1o-2020)
- Cox, Robert D. Decontamination and management of hazardous materials exposure victims in the emergency department. Annals of emergency medicine 23.4 (1994): 761-770. (Last Accessed June-1o-2020)
