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Sterile vs. Non-Sterile Gloves

Gloves can be defined as sterile when they meet the FDA regulations for sterilization techniques. When ordering medical grade gloves, it is extremely important to choose the correct option for your needs. This guide overviews the uses of sterile and non-sterile gloves and the differences between them.

Differences in Use

Non-sterile medical grade gloves are frequently used in medical examinations and other non-surgical environments in which protection from bacteria, parasites, or bodily fluids is needed. Surgical environments require sterile gloves.

Differences in Quality Level

A major difference between the two types of gloves is the AQL. This refers to the acceptable quality level, or the percentage of gloves in a sample that will have a pinhole or other defect. For example, a glove with an AQL of 1 would have a 1% chance of having a pinhole. Sterile gloves have a lower AQL than non-sterile gloves, ranging from 1 to 1.5. Non-sterile gloves typically have an AQL of 1.5 to 2.5.

Medical grade poly, vinyl, and nitrile gloves offered by Cibowares, including Grape Grip, Black Widow, Verge-Med, Nitra Flex, and Sensi-Flex, are considered non-sterile. Deciding which glove is ideal for your needs? Read our Gloves Buying Guide to learn more about the reliable, high-quality options offered by CiboWares.




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