Contamination control goes hand in hand with safety in environments where sterility is a top priority. In most such cases either the staff requires protection from an harmful exposure or an object needs to be safeguarded e.g. pharmaceutical drug manufacturing.

Further, for small procedures that can be performed in sealed units, can easily make use of isolators or glove boxes effectively. Essential to the operational success of using isolators and glove boxes is the choice of cleanroom gloves. The problem can be solved by an understanding of the requirements and availability of options to ensure operational efficiency.

Some Important Considerations

• Usually isolator and glove-box units come installed with heavy-duty latex or neoprene gloves. However, they may not be a perfect fit for several reasons. For instance, in a medical preparations scenario, where guarding for latex protein allergy is critical these glove may not make up for the best buy. In addition even the latex gloves made using the coagulant dipping process are also prone to shedding particles.

• Neoprene on the other hand may pose its own unique challenges. First, it too isn't free from particle shedding. Second, it can hamper dexterity via its heavy duty nature. Third, the neoprene gloves being available only in a handful of sizes may render them a bad fit for staff members. Four, the glove being low on flexibility and incorporating unnatural hand shapes may make it a candidate for causing repetitive strain injuries.

• At the same time, options within the category incorporating different sleeve-glove combinations can reduce the risks and improve dexterity. A couple of such options comprise a cuff mechanism that attaches the glove close to the sleeve and prevents gaps and contamination. These gloves could either be made from heavy duty materials providing a robust sleeve or they could be made from finer materials. While the robust gloves may be more durable and have less costs associated with frequent replacement, the finer gloves supersede them in terms of dexterity.

• Gloves made from materials such as butyl rubber or Viton are more sophisticated. The Butyl rubber serves as material with a superior flexibility at the same time offers a decent gas impermeability and ozone resistance in laboratory conditions. Viton on the other hand is well-known for its resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

• Another sophisticated option for glove material is that of Hypalon. This is a chlorosulfonated polyethylene and offers good protection and can withstand demanding conditions including exposure to high temperatures, oxidizing chemicals and oxidizing environments such as ozone, active oxygen, free radicals and other laboratory chemicals and gases . Further, it offers a good resistance against flames in addition to good mechanical and low temperature properties.

Considering the availability of a wide array of glove and glove materials, a well thought out purchase decision will ensure not only safety but productivity and cost-effectiveness too.