Screening patients for latex allergies

To review the reasons for the recent increase in latex allergies and the five possible routes of exposure to latex.

Selected review articles from print and electronic sources; author's clinical experience; case studies.

Latex allergies are now being documented in groups not previously considered to be at risk due to increased screening in primary care settings.

Nurse practitioners should question about latex sensitivity, flag the charts of latex-sensitive clients, counsel those with a suspected latex sensitivity, refer those with known latex allergy to an allergist, and take the necessary precautions to move toward a latex-safe environment.