Not medical advice. This guide is general purchasing information only.
For most non-surgical exam and studio tasks, buyers choose between two materials we carry today: vinyl (our McKesson Vinyl Exam Glove, clear, in boxes of 100) and nitrile (the Halyard O&M exam glove line, a chemo-rated line, Mfr #55080 case). Latex still exists as a category, but powdered gloves do not: an FDA final rule from December 2016 banned powdered surgeon's gloves AND powdered patient examination gloves (latex and non-latex). Answer-first: buy vinyl for short, low-risk tasks where cost per pair dominates, buy nitrile when the task list runs longer or involves more fluid exposure, and buy whatever your facility or client-site policy requires.
Material comparison at a glance
| Attribute | Vinyl | Nitrile | Latex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product details | McKesson Vinyl Exam Glove: vinyl, clear, boxes of 100; check the product page for the case count | Halyard O&M exam gloves: nitrile; chemo-rated line (Mfr #55080 case) | Non-powered only, per the FDA rule; check the product pages for what is currently available |
| Typical use in our segments | Short exams, studio/spa tasks, food-adjacent work | Exam work where the purchaser wants a synthetic alternative | Where a facility permits it under its own latex policy |
| Fit and feel | Fit varies by brand | Fit varies by brand | Fit varies by brand |
| Powder | Not offered powdered (post-2016 market) | Not offered powdered (post-2016 market) | Powdered latex patient exam gloves banned since Dec 2016 |
How to choose: four questions in order
1. What does policy say? Before comparing materials, check whether your facility — or the site your team works in — has a latex-restriction policy or a required glove class. Purchasing to policy first prevents re-buying.
2. What is the task, not the department? A single material answer rarely fits a whole building. Short-duration tasks with low fluid exposure are where vinyl boxes of 100 make economic sense; longer or wetter tasks are where buyers typically step up to nitrile. Decide per task list, then count.
3. Does the product page actually say it? Trust only what the manufacturer's label or spec sheet states. Our vinyl product page says vinyl, clear, boxes of 100. The Halyard O&M nitrile line is marked as chemo-rated with a Mfr #55080 case. Anything the product page does not say — thickness, AQL, protein levels — needs confirmation from the spec sheet before you put it in a purchase order.
4. What size do the wearers actually need? Exam gloves are sized off a typical size chart built on palm-width ranges: you measure the wearer's palm width and match it to the chart for the specific SKU you are buying. Our vinyl product page currently lists sizes L and M; check the page for the full size run. Measure, then buy a trial box before committing to a case, because charts differ between brands and two wearers with the same letters can get different fits.
What we stock
- Exam gloves collection — the full glove range.
- McKesson Vinyl Exam Glove, Large, Clear — vinyl, clear, boxes of 100.
- Halyard O&M nitrile exam gloves — nitrile, chemo-rated line (Mfr #55080 case); ask us about available sizes.
- Studio & spa supplies collection — where tattoo and body-art buyers shop gloves alongside aftercare supplies.
- For businesses — volume and recurring orders for clinics and studios.
Note on brand equivalence: we do not claim any two brands here are the same or 'same formula.' Vinyl is vinyl and nitrile is nitrile at the material level, but performance claims belong to each manufacturer's label and spec sheet, and we only repeat what those documents actually say.
FAQ
Are powdered gloves still available? No. The FDA final rule of December 2016 banned powdered surgeon's gloves AND powdered patient examination gloves (latex and non-latex), so every exam glove you buy today is a powder-free construction.
Is vinyl acceptable for patient exams? Our vinyl exam gloves are stocked in boxes of 100 for exactly that market. Which task level requires which material is a policy call your facility or client site makes — confirm against your own requirements.
What does 'chemo-rated' mean on the Halyard line? It is the designation on this product (Mfr #55080 case). The underlying ASTM test data and its meaning for your specific use are on the manufacturer's documentation — request it before relying on it.
How do I size a whole team? Use the typical size chart palm-width ranges on the specific SKU, measure each wearer, and confirm the available sizes on the product page before ordering cases.
Should a studio use the same gloves as a clinic? Studios buy from the same exam-glove categories — see our studio & spa collection — but the responsible answer is whatever the studio's own protocol and client requirements specify.
Not medical advice. This guide is general purchasing information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it does not replace the advice of your doctor, nurse or other qualified clinician or the manufacturer's instructions for use. Always follow their guidance for your situation.
