Estimate the Quality of your Disposable Gloves

 

NO LABS. NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED.

There are many disposable gloves to select from, and at first glance, they can all look the same. However, the raw materials used during manufacturing define glove quality, much like ingredients in a recipe determine the outcome of baking. When those ingredients are altered, the performance of the final product is affected.

One common way manufacturers reduce production costs is by altering raw material formulations through the addition of chemical fillers. While this can lower the upfront purchase price, it often compromises glove performance, durability, and safety.

Below is a quick and easy method for estimating differences in raw material quality used during glove manufacturing.

---

6 Step Inflation Test

Use the following steps to quickly compare the quality of materials used to manufacture nitrile, latex, or vinyl disposable gloves.

1. Blow into the glove to inflate it. If the glove breaks during inflation, it is a sign of lower quality with reduced elasticity.
2. Twist the glove to hold in the air.
3. Hold the glove up to the light.
4. Inspect the glove colour and clarity.
5. Inflate another glove to the same size.
6. Hold them side by side and compare clarity and colour variations.

If you see cloudiness, dullness, or uneven colour, this is a strong indicator that cheap fillers have been added during production to reduce manufacturing costs.

Test Results: What You May See

What were the results of your inflation test? 

	No Cheap Fillers Clear:  No or very few fillers used, indicating high-quality materials and a consistent manufacturing process.
	Cheap Fillers – Colour Variation Colour Variations:  Fillers appear visibly swirled throughout the glove, negatively affecting strength, flexibility, and performance.
	Cheap Fillers – Before Inflation Non-Uniform Colour: In heavily filled gloves, colour inconsistencies may be visible even before inflation

Highly filled gloves often display a chalky or dusty appearance when inflated, compared to the clearer, shinier surface of higher-quality materials.

Why Are Fillers Used In Gloves

Raw materials account for a significant portion of disposable glove production costs. To offer gloves at a lower price point, manufacturers may add fillers such as chalk, silica, or carbon black to the compound.

Because glove strength, elasticity, and durability are directly related to raw material quality, the addition of fillers often results in:

• Reduced glove strength
• Reduced flexibility and elasticity
• Increased tearing and failure rates
• Potential toxicity and skin irritation for the wearer
  

This can trigger a chain reaction of consequences:

• Gloves fail more frequently, increasing usage, waste, and disposal costs
• Workers need to change gloves more often, negatively impacting productivity
• Thicker gloves are selected in the belief that they are more durable, but compromised raw materials may negate this benefit

Although it may seem counterintuitive, cheaper disposable gloves often cost more over time due to increased failure rates, higher consumption, and safety risks. 

Inferior Gloves Increase Your Safety Risk

Low-grade fillers such as chalk or silica can be toxic to the wearer and significantly reduce glove strength and flexibility. As glove failure rates increase, so does the risk of:

• Microorganisms coming into contact with skin
• Glove fragments entering food in food-handling environments
• Compromised hygiene and increased contamination risks

Because disposable gloves are often purchased sight unseen, supplier trust and supply-chain transparency are critical. Quality cannot be determined by a Safety Data Sheet alone. Eagle Protect goes further with our Eagle Standard and Delta Zero™ verification testing, where selected glove ranges used primarily in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) settings are lot-tested to ensure consistent raw materials and manufacturing processes.

To learn more, read Top 6 Hazards of Cheap Disposable Gloves and why low-cost gloves do not save you money. Eagle Protect offers a range of certified food or medically safe single-use gloves to protect your staff, your customers, and your business reputation.