Mostly, disposable gloves are of two types – cleanroom gloves and exam gloves – used in cleanroom environments and in doctors’ offices respectively. Though their manufacturing processes are alike, the post-manufacturing process is what sets them apart.
CLEANROOM GLOVES
Cleanrooms are classified depending on the applications they are used for. They are especially manufactured for clean environments or controlled environments.
These gloves are used by pharmaceuticalmanufacturers, because for injectables, the gloves not only need to be sterile, but also low in particulates.
Cleanroom gloves need to be used in highly sterile environments and are hence designed and processed according to stringent standards.
To ensure a high level of cleanliness, the gloves are washed in highly filtered deionized water. The rinsing process is repeated as many times as it is required to reach the desired cleanliness level.
The gloves are packed in bags with polyethylene inner wrappers which are also made in a cleanroom.
SURGICAL GLOVES
The main purpose of surgical gloves that are used in operation theatres is to mainly prevent infection from bacteria.
The ultimate purpose of sterilising surgical gloves to be used in operating theatres is to prevent infection from bacteria which would otherwise be present on the gloves.
Unlike cleanroom gloves, there is not much emphasis on the production and packaging of surgical gloves.
Powder free examination gloves are produced by two methods. They are either dipped into a polymer coating or are chlorinated on line before stripping them off the glove formers. Since the chlorination takes place only inside the glove, they contain a lot more bacteria than cleanroom gloves.
These gloves are sealed in paper pouches and packed into cardboard boxes which have a tendency to shed particles when opened.
It is imperative that the person designating the gloves knows a) what level of execution is required to coordinate their procedure, and b) what the prerequisites of the wearers are as cleanroom gloves are available in varied materials, distinctive shapes, diverse lengths, distinctive thicknesses and different textures and levels of grip. For a few applications, the determination of the right glove will be clear however for others a bit more work might be required. Any experienced maker of cleanroom gloves will have the capacity to give specific details, guidance and samples to help choosing cleanroom gloves for specific applications.
