Examination of several instruments for the electrical detection of holes in latex gloves during use

The initial purpose of this research was to investigate the use of electrical conductivity for detecting holes in latex gloves, while they are being worn, using both recently developed devices and laboratory equipment. The individual devices were not evaluated or critically compared. The use of this technique as a quality assurance procedure, and to determine the degradation of latex gloves due to storage and exposure to disinfectants, was also investigated. The following conclusions were reached: (1) These devices alarm if the latex is breached by an object of at least 300 um-diameter and both the inside and outside of the glove are wet with a conductive fluid. False alarms from latex hydration is the primary disadvantage. (2) This technique is a sensitive QA procedure if any hole to be detected is wet with a conductive liquid. (3) Sealed, sterile latex gloves may degrade over many months. (4) There was no obvious degradation of latex gloves after two hours' exposure to three commonly used disinfectants.