Are nitrile gloves latex free

Why nitrile gloves contain no latex

Factory made, not tapped from a tree

According to ACAAI, natural rubber latex comes from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. NIOSH describes latex allergy as a reaction to certain proteins in that rubber. ACAAI also notes that synthetic rubber made from chemicals does not trigger reactions in people allergic to natural rubber latex. Nitrile belongs to that synthetic group, which is why the FDA names it, along with PVC and polyurethane, as a material people with a latex allergy can choose instead.

So is nitrile latex free? The material is. What you need to trust is the label, since boxes of nitrile, latex and blends can look alike. The FDA requires makers of medical gloves to name the materials on the package. Buyers often ask, do nitrile gloves contain latex in small amounts? A glove labeled 100% nitrile is made without it, so check for those words on the box or the product page.

For our part, every one of our 10 nitrile gloves lists "100% Nitrile, powder-free, non-latex" in its specifications. That runs from our 3 mil blue exam grade nitrile at $59.95 a case to the 8 mil Orange Diamond Grip at $99.95.

Latex allergy basics for glove buyers

Three reactions, only one from latex

Not every glove rash is a latex allergy. NIOSH sorts reactions to latex gloves into three kinds, and only one comes from the latex proteins that nitrile avoids.

A latex allergy usually develops after many exposures, so the people at highest risk are the ones who wear gloves all shift. ACAAI lists health care workers and others who often wear latex gloves, people who have had many surgeries, rubber industry workers, and people with hay fever or certain food allergies. For a fuller picture, read ACAAI on latex reactions, including the foods that can cross-react, such as banana, avocado and kiwi.

The workplace advice is direct. When a health care worker is sensitive to latex, ACAAI says their co-workers should switch to synthetic gloves too. Hospitals and clinics that moved to non-latex or low-protein latex gloves saw dramatic declines in new cases.

Latex allergy symptoms to watch for

What a reaction can look like

Latex allergy symptoms usually start within minutes of contact, per ACAAI and NIOSH, though NIOSH notes they can also show up hours later. The list below combines what ACAAI and NIH's MedlinePlus describe:

• Itching, redness and swelling where the glove touched the skin
• Hives
• Stuffy or runny nose, watery and itchy eyes
• Scratchy throat, wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing
• Blisters or an eczema-like rash on the back of the hands 1 to 3 days after wearing rubber gloves, which ACAAI attributes to glove chemicals rather than latex proteins

Powder can carry the problem past the hands. ACAAI reports anaphylaxis and severe asthma from inhaling latex proteins in the air, and MedlinePlus notes that breathing in the powder on latex gloves can cause reactions. Every glove we sell is powder-free.

If you suspect a latex allergy, see a clinician rather than testing gloves on yourself. ACAAI says latex allergy is diagnosed with an allergy blood test, and AAAAI points to an allergist as the doctor best placed to confirm it and build a plan. Bring the glove box with you, so they can see what the glove is made of.

Can you be allergic to nitrile gloves

Yes, to what goes into them

So can you be allergic to nitrile gloves? A 2021 review in Allergologie Select explains that accelerators speed up vulcanization, the step that cross-links rubber, and that they can cause contact allergy of the delayed type. The review notes they are often used in nitrile and latex gloves alike. A 2018 survey of 190 exam and surgical gloves sold in the US found carbamate accelerators in 90.5% of them and thiurams in 11, and concluded that most exam and surgical gloves use accelerators.

A nitrile allergy of this kind looks like the allergic contact dermatitis in the table above: a rash where the glove sat, showing up hours or days later. AAAAI puts that delayed rash usually within 12 to 48 hours, and ACAAI says 1 to 3 days.

The review also warns that a "hypoallergenic" label usually refers to the absence of latex proteins, and accelerators may still be present. The tests differ too. Latex allergy is checked with a blood test, while the review recommends patch testing to find or rule out an accelerator allergy. Tell your doctor exactly which gloves you wear.

Accelerator free nitrile gloves explained

What the label does & doesn't promise

Accelerator free nitrile gloves are made without those chemicals. They are a real category: the 2018 survey found 8 companies advertising accelerator-free gloves, and the 2021 review says the number of accelerator-free nitrile disposables has grown, most with short cuffs. Its authors knew of no thick-walled disposable gloves made without accelerators.

Here is where we stand, plainly. None of our 100% nitrile gloves claims to be accelerator-free. The words "free from latex and accelerators" appear on three of our product pages, and none of them is a 100% nitrile glove:

Nitro-V blends nitrile and vinyl, so it is a hybrid, not a 100% nitrile glove. The 2021 review notes that a vinyl and nitrile mix can be made without accelerators. Sizes on these three sell out at times, so check yours on the product page before you order.

Choosing non latex gloves for a team

One box the whole crew can wear

When you buy for a team, you are choosing for people whose allergies you may not know, and for the patients, clients and customers their hands touch. NIOSH recommends nonlatex gloves for tasks that are not likely to involve infectious materials, and AAAAI suggests substituting vinyl or nitrile gloves for latex. Non latex gloves take the latex question off the table for everyone.

1. Stock latex free gloves as the default, so nobody has to disclose an allergy to get a safe pair.
2. Match thickness to the job: 3 to 4 mil for exams, food prep and salon work, 5 to 5.5 mil for heavier tasks, 7 to 8 mil diamond grip for oily or wet shop work.
3. Read the label for the material and "powder-free" before every reorder.
4. Keep a second option, such as Nitro-V or vinyl, for anyone a clinician says reacts to accelerators.
5. Send anyone with a new rash or hives to a doctor, and note which glove they wore.

For clinics, dental offices and vet practices, start with our medical glove collection, six gloves from $58.95 a case. For kitchens, our Black and Blue Nitrile Gloves (Industrial) state that they comply with 21 CFR 177.2600 for food contact. Most cases hold 1,000 gloves. Some XL cases hold 900.

You can shop all our latex free gloves by the case by job, size and thickness. Shipping is free on contiguous US orders for a limited time, and most orders are processed within 1 business day.