Leak rate of latex gloves after tearing adhesive tape

Anesthesiologists use latex gloves to provide barrier protection against infectious disease or contamination while providing anesthetic services. The performance of these services often involves tearing tape. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of tearing adhesive tape on permeability of latex examination gloves and to test the effect of an adhesive-sparing moisturizing cream on permeability of latex gloves used to tear adhesive tape. In a blinded, randomized, controlled laboratory experiment, 48 nonsterile latex examination gloves (24 pairs) were randomized to 1 of 2 groups. Adhesive-sparing moisturizing cream, 0.1 mL, was applied to 12 glove pairs; the remaining 12 pairs served as controls. Each of the 24 pairs of gloves were used to tear five 4-cm strips of cloth adhesive tape from a standard 1 1/2-inch roll. After initial inspection for obvious tears, each glove was tested for leaks using the watertight test as specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Data recorded included the identity of the investigator tearing tape, number of holes initially observed, number of holes observed from the ASTM test, location of holes, glove classification as right or left hand, and treatment group. Based on the study, the authors concluded that health care providers who tear adhesive tape while wearing latex gloves should be aware that there is a high probability that the gloves no longer form a protective barrier and that adhesive-sparing moisturizing cream applied before tape is torn increases barrier protection.