The history of latex gloves begins back in 1890, when William Stewart Halsted asked the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company to make a glove out of rubber which could be dipped in carbolic acid. The importance of sterilisation in medical procedures had recently become known, but when he sterilised his nurse’s hands with carbolic acid they found that she was sensitive to the chemical.

In 1964, Ansell began to produce disposable rubber gloves, based on production techniques used for condoms, and they came to be used for a wide range of clinical applications and other uses. It was the rise of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, and the accompanying recognition of contamination issues, that really made the market grow exponentially. Industry experts say that in 1987 the US imported around 1 billion latex gloves, but by 1988 this had exploded to 8 billion.

The increasing use of latex gloves and other products led to an increasing recognition of latex allergies, with a number of serious cases in the 1990s making headline news. This led to the development of alternatives to natural rubber latex, like nitrile and vinyl, and to improvements in the manufacture of latex gloves.

It was found that the powder used in many latex gloves to make them easier to put on could increase sensitivity, so alternative coatings were developed to replace the powder and there are now many powder free latex gloves available. Recognising that it was the proteins in the latex that caused the allergies, improved technologies were developed to reduce those proteins during the manufacturing process, thus reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

While nitrile gloves and other alternatives are increasingly used in many areas where latex allergies could be an issue, medical professionals often prefer the fine control and greater sensitivity to touch that latex gloves provide. This can also be a factor for other professionals, such as tattoo artists.

The latex glove industry continues to monitor latex allergies – which are estimated to be present in less than ten percent of the general population – and research new technologies to reduce the risk and severity of allergic reactions, meaning that the latex glove still has a bright and vital future.

Whatever kind of disposable medical gloves you need, the Glove Club offers a wide range of high quality products at competitive prices.

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The History of Latex Gloves and Why They Are Still Vital