Natural rubber latex protein reduction with an emphasis on enzyme treatment

Natural rubber latex (NRL), derived from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, is a material used to manufacture products in health care, including medical gloves. Proteins are a naturally occurring component of NRL. These proteins, which can be present on the surface of NRL gloves, have been related to hypersensitivity reactions in some humans who come into contact with them. These same proteins also help to maintain the latex colloidal stability during collection and transport prior to manufacture. Consequently, when measures are taken to remove or degrade these proteins, other problems can be introduced, such as destabilization of the latex and changes in its coagulation properties. Practical methods are available to reduce the extractable antigenic protein content of NRL products. We describe here methods of reducing proteins in commercial-grade NRL and finished products. NRL gloves manufactured with adequate leaching can produce products with lower levels of extractable antigenic proteins. Emphasis is given here to enzyme treatment of NRL, as this process is very effective in reducing antigenic proteins in NRL. While this technology adds marginally to the production cost of standard grades of NRL, it is still quite cost-effective when compared with postwashing NRL products or the use of synthetic latex. Moreover, enzyme-treated NRL maintains the excellent physical properties and performance of NRL.