The use of gloves is one of the key measures to ensure safety and hygiene in the medical and industrial fields. Depending on the use and production process, gloves are usually classified into sterilized and non-sterilized gloves. Non-sterile gloves are widely used in several fields. However, with the general increase in safety awareness, the demand for sterilized gloves in high-risk scenarios such as medical institutions and laboratories is also increasing. There are significant differences between these two types of gloves in terms of characteristics, usage scenarios, and other aspects. Now，let’s discuss the differences between these two types of gloves and their application scenarios from various aspects.

Glove Characteristics

Sterilized gloves are gloves that have been subjected to a specific sterilization process to ensure that they are sterile within the package. These gloves are subjected to rigorous sterilization procedures such as ethylene oxide sterilization, gamma sterilization or electron beam sterilization. Sterilization gloves are usually made of high quality latex or nitrile rubber with high tear and puncture resistance. Sterilization gloves are soft and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Non-sterile gloves, although maintained at a high level of cleanliness during the manufacturing process, are not sterilized and microorganisms may be present on the surface of the glove. Nonetheless, non-sterile gloves still provide basic protection and are used in situations where hygiene requirements are not as stringent.

Applicable Scenarios

Sterilized gloves are mainly used in the healthcare industry, especially in high-risk environments such as operating rooms, aseptic suites, and the treatment of open wounds. Sterilized gloves can effectively prevent the spread of pathogens and protect the safety of patients and medical staff during operations such as surgical procedures, trauma treatment and sterile dressing changes.

Non-sterile gloves are suitable for environments with frequent change of use. They are mostly used in scenarios that do not involve direct contact with the patient's internal organs or body fluids, such as daily examinations and patient care. In addition, non-sterile gloves have a wide range of applications in non-medical environments such as industrial manufacturing, food processing and chemical laboratories. These settings do not require a completely sterile environment, but still require a certain level of protection to prevent cross-infection and contamination.

Standard

Sterilized gloves are subject to a series of stringent standards and determination procedures in order to ensure the sterility of the product. Examples include the international ISO 11137 standard, as well as ASTM D3577, which specify validation, monitoring and packaging requirements during the sterilization process to ensure that the gloves remain sterile at the time of use.

The production of non-sterile gloves is also subject to certain standards, such as ASTM D3578 or EN 455, but these standards focus on the physical properties of the gloves rather than their sterility. Therefore, the manufacturing process of non-sterile gloves is not as stringent in terms of sterility management as that of sterilized gloves.

Packaging

Sterilized gloves are usually packaged in pairs of hands and sealed with sterilized packaging materials. Each pair of gloves undergoes a rigorous sterilization process before and after packaging, such as irradiation or ethylene oxide sterilization, and the date of sterilization and expiration date are indicated on the package.

Non-sterile gloves are usually sold in bulk or in boxes containing multiple pairs of gloves. The packaging material is usually not sterilized and provides only basic protection. There is usually no sterilization date on the package because these gloves are not required to be sterile.

Price

Sterilized gloves have a higher production and packaging cost due to the additional sterilization process, and therefore have a higher market price than non-sterilized gloves. Depending on market conditions, sterilized gloves typically cost 1.5 to 2 times as much as non-sterilized gloves. This price difference mainly reflects the complexity of the sterilization process and the stringent quality control requirements.

Use

When using sterilized gloves, it is important to ensure that the sterility of the gloves is not compromised. For this reason, it is important to disinfect your hands before wearing sterilized gloves and to avoid contact with any non-sterile surfaces as much as possible. Sterilized gloves are usually single-use and should be discarded immediately after use to prevent contamination.

Non-sterile gloves are relatively flexible and can be worn multiple times, provided they are not torn or visibly contaminated. In some cases, non-sterile gloves can also be used as disposable gloves, especially in environments where the risk of potential infection is high.

Choosing the right glove is not only about its function and use, but also about the method of sterilization and its possible implications. There are significant differences between sterilized and non-sterilized gloves, but the two types of gloves are suitable for different scenarios. By choosing the right type of glove for the specific use requirements, not only can you ensure safety, but you can also optimize costs.