Integrity of powdered and powder-free latex examination gloves

The difference in permeability between one brand of powdered and another of powder-free latex examination gloves was evaluated to determine leak rates.

Thirty-one of each type of glove were tested for each of three different conditions: usage by dental personnel (1) for 15 minutes or longer, (2) for less than 15 minutes, and (3) directly from the manufacturer's packaging (zero usage time). Each glove was evaluated in the fingers and the palm. The phiX-174 viral solution in the glove was allowed to penetrate for 15 minutes. Powder (cornstarch) was subsequently added to 20 powder-free gloves, and 15 of these were pierced with a 30-gauge needle.

Powdered gloves showed no leakage rates. Because of this, 30-, 27-, and 25-gauge needles were used to pierce five gloves each. One glove with 27- and 25-gauge needle holes showed leakage. Leakage rates for powder-free gloves: 45.1 percent for more than 15 minutes of use, 25.8 percent for less than 15 minutes of use, and 16.1 percent for zero minutes of use. Two of the 20 pierced and one of the five unpierced powder-free gloves with added cornstarch leaked.

Significant differences in leak results between powdered and powder-free gloves suggest further study is needed.