The standards under the jurisdiction of Committee D11.40 and other technical committees can be used individually or as part of an integrated protocol in the assessment and selection of medical gloves.

The intended use of the standards is as a means by which information can be requested, generated, and reported in a consistent, comparable manner.

The suggested assessments and test methods are recommended guidelines.

Test methods offer procedures for assessing medical gloves at standardized conditions to allow comparison.

The information on medical glove performance must be combined with professional judgment, and a clear understanding of the application, in order for the medical glove to provide the best performance.

Medical gloves intended for use during emergency medical operations may be evaluated and their performance certified to NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations. This certification program is voluntary.

1.1 This guide is intended to assist in the identification and application of the most appropriate ASTM and associated standards for the assessment, development of specifications, and selection of medical gloves with the ultimate goal of maintaining the safety and health of healthcare workers who may come into contact with biological and chemical hazards.

1.2 No guidance document or assessment protocol can ensure the selection of medical gloves that guarantees healthcare worker protection. The purpose of testing and assessing medical gloves is to generate the performance data and quality information that will allow the most appropriate assessment and selection of medical gloves. Ultimately, the selection of medical gloves shall be based on the evaluation of available technical data, quality information, and professional assessment of risk.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.