In clinical and care work the glove is worn almost continuously, changed many times a day and relied on as a barrier. Barrier integrity and skin tolerance therefore carry equal weight, because occupational dermatitis is the reason staff stop wearing gloves properly.
Barrier performance against micro organisms is covered by EN ISO 374-5. Only gloves that also pass the ISO 16604 viral penetration test may be marked VIRUS. For any procedure where viral transmission is a concern, that marking is the specification.
Surface disinfectants, alcohol rubs, fixatives and cytotoxic agents are handled routinely. Examination gloves are not general chemical protection, and tasks involving cytotoxics or concentrated disinfectants need a glove certified for that specific substance.
Continuous glove wear, frequent hand washing and alcohol gel leave skin dry and broken. Broken skin is both an infection route and a compliance problem. Powder free construction, low residue processing and skin conditioning liners reduce the irritation that causes staff to skip glove use.
Barrier failure is often mechanical rather than material, a tear at the cuff or a pinhole from a ring or nail. AQL 1.5 or better sets the acceptable pinhole rate, and correct sizing does more for real world barrier performance than film thickness does.
Size range is part of the specification. A glove stretched too tight tears at the cuff and one that is loose reduces dexterity and gets caught, so stock the full range rather than an average.
It is a sampling based acceptable quality level for pinholes. A batch at AQL 1.5 has passed inspection with no more than the permitted proportion of defective gloves. It is a batch quality measure rather than a guarantee about any individual glove.
Where protection against viral transmission is part of the risk assessment. The marking may only be applied when the glove has passed the ISO 16604 test in addition to EN ISO 374-5, so it is a meaningful distinction rather than a label.
Use powder free, low residue gloves, size them correctly, and consider conditioning or hypoallergenic liners for staff wearing gloves all shift. Skin that stays intact is both an infection control benefit and the reason gloves keep being worn.
Send the tasks, sizes and quantities you need and we will come back with a written quotation. Contact Knight Safety Gear.