To put it simply, nitrile gloves are protective gloves made out of a synthetic material. Traditionally, medical and industrial gloves used to protect you from punctures, chemicals, and even harmful viruses have been made out of latex. In fact, nitrile protects better against punctures and can be used to offer resistance against a wide range of chemicals. Since many people are known to be allergic to latex rubber, nitrile gloves have become very popular.

Although nitrile gloves may seem superior, it is not without drawbacks. In the past nitrile rubber used to be quite expensive but as demand caused production levels to increase, nitrile gloves have become more affordable. Nevertheless, this synthetic glove may be more expensive than latex or vinyl. Another con is that nitrile material feels more slippery than its latex counterpart. This makes handling tools harder when working in a wet environment. To add some friction, glove manufacturers added texture to the fingertips to prevent slippage.

Making nitrile gloves is quite similar to how latex gloves are manufactured and undergo similar quality assurance tests depending on the classification of the nitrile glove. For instance, if the nitrile glove will be used within the healthcare industry, the nitrile glove will be tested as a medical exam glove that is set forth by the FDA.

Nearly all nitrile gloves are made to be used as disposable gloves meaning they are meant to be used and thrown away after single use. Since nitrile gloves are so durable, it may be tempting to reuse the glove but this is advised against. Especially if you are wearing nitrile gloves to protect against viruses, bacteria, or chemicals, you should throw the used glove away properly. When nitrile gloves come into contact with chemicals, it typically reacts and causes the material to be less solid. Although the nitrile glove may appear to be ok, the glove might not protect as well as a new glove.