Choosing the right medical supplies based on medical gloves standard and key drivers enhancing the growth of rubber glove companies in 2013.

1. Choosing the right supplies
based on medical gloves
standard and key drivers
enhancing the growth of
rubber glove companies in
2013

2. What do you need to know
about rubber glove
companies and industry
trend in 2013 to ensure
your success in glove
business?
Disclaimer
This book is intended for informational and educational
purposes only.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Supplies
Based on Medical Glove Standards
-
AQL 1.5 Level
Elongation
Physical Appearance
Comfort of gloves
High risk situations

3. Chapter 2: Concern for Medical Glove
Companies
-
Growing Number of Infections
Synthetic Alternatives
Pathogenic Infections
Puncture resistance
Flexibility of gloves
-
Chapter 3: Key Drivers Enhancing the Growth of
Rubber Production in 2013
- Escalating Hygiene Awareness and Healthcare Regulations
- Rising Ageing Population
- Health Threats
- Increasing Global Healthcare Expenditure
Chapter 4: Glove Industry Trend in 2013
- Shifting Demand from NR to Nitrile Rubber Gloves
- Stronger USD
- Combined Expansion Plans of Rubber Gloves Companies
- New Growth Markets
- Industry Consolidation

4. Introduction
M
edical
glove standards are different for
surgical and exam gloves. Medical gloves are
meant to prevent the spread of bacteria, normally
between caregiver and patient. Medical gloves
are used to stop the unregulated spread of disease in medical
settings. Besides protecting the patient, it also protects the
caregiver. Halsted's germ theory of disease helped medical care
providers begin to understand how to stop the spread of
pathogens.
Latex, vinyl, nitrile rubber and neoprene are the most common
polymers used to produce medical gloves. Latex surgical gloves
allow for increased sensitivity to touch but many people are allergic
to latex.
AQL LEVEL
Medical glove standards rate the strength, flexibility and ability to
withstand pinholes. Each approved glove must be water-resistant
and meet standard minimum requirements for strength and barrier
protection. The Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) tests are used to
determine the quality of the product. The lower the AQL rating, the
higher the quality. The three tests used to determine the quality of a
glove are the water leak test, the air inflation test and the chemical
permeation test.
ELONGATION
The strength is determined by its ability to stretch as well as its ability
to resist tears, punctures and breakage. Elongation is done by
stretching the glove until it breaks. The higher the elongation time,
the better the quality and the higher the elasticity. Medical gloves
should always fit well, have consistent sizing and be waterproof.

5. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Medical personal should be trained to know which type of glove is
necessary for each task. They should always be checked for rips
and tears after being put on and before beginning any medical
exam or procedure. Gloves need to be well-fitting and all
healthcare personal should be properly trained on the procedures
for donning and doffing gloves.
COMFORT OF GLOVES
The comfort of the gloves should also be considered. Latex gloves
are generally considered the most comfortable for those who do
not have a latex allergy. Nitrile rubber gloves are soft, flexible and
non-irritating but they are also more expensive. Vinyl gloves are
considered quite comfortable but they do not provide the same
barrier protection as latex and nitrite rubber gloves.
HIGH RISK SITUATIONS
For high-risk situations where pathogens are present, latex or nitrile
rubber gloves should be used because they offer the greatest
barrier protection. High-risk situations include medical tasks that
involve the use of instruments, like needles, and contact with bodily
fluids, like blood, urine, vomit and feces. These two types of gloves
also have the highest stretch ability and should be used for tasks of
long duration. Vinyl gloves can be used for quick tasks and for jobs
that involve little or no contact with bodily fluids. Vinyl gloves should
also be used for food handling.
When choosing the right gloves for your medical facility, consider
how well they rate against medical glove standards. You should
also find the highest quality gloves that fit into your budget.
Remember that not all tasks require high-quality medical gloves.

6. Concern for medical glove
companies
GROWING NUMBER OF
INFECTIONS
There are several reasons for the increasing global market
surrounding medical glove companies. One is the growing number
of infections related to an increasing number of antibiotic resistant
bacteria. The proper use of disposable medical gloves and proper
hand washing techniques rapidly diminish the number of
healthcare acquired infections. There is also an increase in the
concern over occupational safety standards. Globally, there is also
a rise in the emphasis on meeting health care needs.
SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVES
Although the United States is the largest regional market for
disposable medical gloves, the Asian market is the fastest growing.
As the demand for synthetic and powder-free gloves continues to
increase, medical glove companies are creating more diverse
products to meet the ever-growing needs of the medical
community. Technological breakthroughs and innovative synthetic
alternatives will ensure the economic growth of the medical glove
market. Due to latex allergies, manufacturers are continuing to look
for high-quality variations that meet the need for latex gloves
without using latex. The demand for non-powdered gloves
continues to increase because any type of powder can interfere
with healing when it comes into contact with tissue.
PATHOGEN INFECTIONS
The demand for disposable medical gloves continues to grow even
during difficult economic periods because they are necessary for
surgeons, doctors and other medical professionals. The sustained
market growth is expected to continue as stricter regulations are

7. put into place over concerns for healthcare workers. Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant
enterococci (VRE), vancomycin-intermediate/resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA) and drug-resistant Klebsiella
are often transferred from patient to patient or from patient to staff
members in hospital settings. New concerns over these healthcare
acquired pathogenic infections are ensuring that medical workers
are being properly trained in the use of disposable medical gloves.
Nurses, CNA's and other hands-on healthcare professionals can
easily use dozens of gloves each day.
PUNCTUAL RESISTANCE
Medical glove companies must be concerned with creating a highquality product. Most countries have regulations governing the
quality of gloves produced for medical use. First of all, they must be
strong enough to withstand puncture from needles and other sharp
medical instruments. When used for surgical or medical practices
that require the greatest strength, gloves can protect against the
transmission of blood-borne diseases and the transfer of pathogens.
FLEXIBILITY OF GLOVES
Medical gloves must also be flexible, durable, fit well and create a
barrier. Gloves that can stretch without breaking are more desirable
than less flexible gloves. Not all gloves are created equal and more
durable gloves should be used when healthcare professionals are
doing tasks that take a lot of time and tasks that require extended
contact with bodily fluids. Because they are worn so often, medical
gloves should also be comfortable and well-fitting. Loose gloves do
not form a barrier and gloves that are too tight are more likely to
break during use. Barrier protection tests ensure that gloves are
waterproof, airtight and not permeable to liquid or gaseous
chemicals. Acceptable quality level (AQL) standards are used to
assign a quality number based on random inspection and are used
to regulate the barrier confidence levels.

8. Key Drivers Enhancing the
Growth of Rubber
Production in 2013
Rubber gloves have been in use for ages now and as the world
steps into the advancements of technology, the importance of
rubber gloves has been felt by many industries. This has caused the
rubber glove industries to reap profits from the endless demands of
the industries. The primary rubber glove producing countries are
Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. The introduction of nitrile rubber
gloves in addition to the current natural rubber gloves has
increased the competition in these glove making industries as well.
The primary drivers for the growth of the rubber glove industries are:
ESCALATING HYGIENCE
AWARENESS AND HEALTHCARE
REGULATIONS
The safety of employees falls largely on the industries’ stakeholders
after the introduction of stringent policies for their health and safety.
This has augmented the demands of rubber gloves in the
healthcare industries. Numerous countries were unaware of the
importance of hygiene in the healthcare firms. The ability to spread
hygiene awareness to these countries has helped them actively use
rubber gloves for the safety of the employees and the patients.
Creating a substantial barrier between the wearer and the
infected, medical gloves have been instrumental in maximizing the
hygiene regulations of a company.
RISING AGEING POPULATION
The availability of medicines to cure major ailments has given us the
chance to survive longer. Hence, a huge part of the world’s
population constitutes the elderly. With age their requirements to
visit medical institutions increases as well. Age also makes them
prone to more diseases as their immunity system decreases.

9. Healthcare firms who do not use appropriate safety measures may
make their patients vulnerable to other diseases. The healthcare
firms have thus increased the demand of rubber gloves to meet the
rising ageing population.
HEALTH THREATS
When diseases like H1N1 and SARS struck the world, poor hygiene
was a major reason for the increase of the disease in an area. With
the usage of rubber gloves, medical institutions were able to
minimize the threats and to a certain extent, control them. The
outburst of such pandemics also made countries aware of the
importance of rubber gloves expanding the markets go rubber
glove industries to cover new countries who had so far neglected
the use of rubber gloves.
INCREASING GLOBAL
HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE
Globally, a rise of the rubber glove demands was created as
governments chose to invest more in the healthcare requirements
of the country. Emerging countries are investing in the development
of new hospitals and medical institutions. Also, various reformations
in the current laws regulating healthcare showed a plausible
increase in the production of the rubber gloves. The historical data
of global healthcare expenditure has seen an upward trend.
We can conclusively say that the importance of rubber gloves in
the healthcare industry has made the rubber glove industries earn
outstanding profits. At the same time, an absence of rubber gloves
from the healthcare industry may create havoc which is why till the
time appropriate alternatives are not introduced, it is safe to say
that rubber glove industries will reap the profits.

10. Glove Industry Trend in
2013
SHIFTING DEMAND FROM NR TO
NITRILE RUBBER GLOVES
Nitrile Butadiene Rubber commonly called Nitrile Rubber is
unequalled in the market of expendable lab-cleaning and
examination gloves. The resiliency of nitrile rubber gloves to oilbased products and many other chemicals creates a stronger
barrier for the wearer with fewer chances of an accident. The ability
of these gloves to withstand chafing and punctures makes lab
workers choose it over natural rubber gloves. A nitrile glove is
considered 3 times superior than the NR gloves when it comes to
puncture resistance. Since its introduction to the commercial
market in 1969 the nitrile rubber gloves have made their presence
felt in the market proving that they are better in many ways when
compared to natural rubber gloves.
STRONGER USD
Nitrile Rubber Gloves have noticed a favorable trend in the foreign
exchange market with the US Dollar rising to stronger values. If it
lingers in the market for a noticeable period of time then nitrile
rubber gloves industries will find a rise in their profits. For companies
producing rubber gloves, the plummeting prices of latex was a
welcoming situation. Should the market continue to see a hike in
the value of dollar, the earning of glove companies will surely see
an increase? The demands of rubber gloves have increased with
the development of new industries and a rise in the hospitals and
medical institutes in the world.
COMBINED EXPANSION PLANS OF
RUBBER GLOVE COMPANIES
To brave through the ever increasing requirements of the rubber
glove industry, companies have considered mergers and

11. amalgamations. The combined expansion plans of rubber glove
companies give them the chance to share their techniques and
remain resilient from the fluctuating market trends. An exchange of
the research and development conducted by the companies
increases their knowhow of the rubber glove market and
accentuates their presence creating a stronger hold in the market.
The combined expansion of the companies may benefit the
companies involved but it generally does not create a tense market
condition for other rubber glove industry because the market did
not see a new entrant.
NEW GROWTH MARKETS
The horizons for the rubber glove market has increased as it makes
was for more and more industries jumping into the market in
developed countries. These industries may require gloves which are
readily supplied by the rubber glove producers. Developing
countries are bound to increase the demand for rubber gloves as a
result of medical organisations and food industries targeting these
countries. An increase in the awareness of safety precautions while
handling medical equipment have kept the demand soaring.
INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION
The increasing targets have made the top rubber glove industries
consider taking over the weaker ones to increase their shares in the
market. With the stronger rubber glove producers winning over most
of the market, the rubber glove industry will be consolidated in the
future. Analysts have debated over the fact that a consolidation of
the industry may not necessarily be to increase the production of
the gloves because this can be done by simply opening more
production units under their name.