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Studies: Newer latex gloves reduce allergy risk

Hospital Safety Connection, September 5, 2003

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Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and Europe found that wearing low-protein, low- or non-powdered natural rubber latex gloves greatly reduces the risk of allergic reactions and the likelihood of health workers developing latex sensitivity.

Several studies touted by the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, the largest exporter of rubber gloves to the U.S., show that it is possible for many latex-sensitive workers wearing synthetic gloves to work alongside colleagues wearing low-protein latex gloves without suffering allergy symptoms.

One study shows that many latex-allergic health care workers were able to work safely wearing low-allergen powdered gloves. Only a few who had experienced previous anaphylactic reactions needed non-latex gloves, and even those workers did not experience symptoms from low-allergen latex gloves worn by co-workers, the study reports.

New manufacturing technology allows the protein content of latex gloves to be reduced from about 2,000 micrograms/gm to 50 micrograms or less, especially for powder-free latex gloves.

The most recent of the studies cited is a February 2003 report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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