Best sterile gloves-important points to know in 2022

What are sterile gloves?

Sterile gloves are gloves that are sterile, which means they are free from all microorganisms and germs. They provide the wearer more protection from infections and many other biohazards than their non-sterile counterparts. Sterile quality gloves are essential for many medical invasive procedures and operations that require contact with sterile parts of the body. In healthcare settings like hospitals, dental clinics, and medical laboratories, healthcare professionals need to avoid exposure to infectious microbes and thus the usage of gloves that are sterile is considered much more important.

Another difference between sterile and non-sterile gloves is in the AQL or the acceptable quality level of pinholes. Sterile gloves have AQL at 1.0 to 1.5 and non-sterile grade gloves AQL at 1.5 to 2.5. This number refers to the gloves in the sample that may have pinholes.

How are gloves made sterile?

Gloves marked as “sterile” are sterilized by the manufacturer through complicated procedures as a part of the production process. The sterilization process of medical devices usually includes different methods like the application of dry heat, moist heat or Steam, ethylene oxide, and radiation. The methods commonly used for the production of sterile gloves include ethylene oxide and gamma rays. They are then packed in sterile packets to ensure safety throughout the shelf life or until the packets are opened by the wearer.

Are sterile gloves costly, and why?

Yes. Gloves that are marked as sterile are costlier than non-sterile gloves. This is due to their complex and stricter production procedure, to make the gloves sterile. Also, these gloves have to be packed with much care and safety to ensure protection till the packets are opened by the end user.

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