Medical Elastomers And Latex

Storage of Medical Latex Gloves

Mr. Manan Shah, Rubber Technologist

Latex products and products containing latex require special care as latex is especially prone to deterioration if stored under incorrect conditions.

In particular, latex products should be protected from :

1. High Temperatures
2  Ozone
3. High voltage electrical sourceas, including storage close to fluorescent lights
4. Strong light sources , including direct sunlight

Medical Latex gloves storage guidelines

• Below 25°C, away from sources of heat (boilers, radiators and direct sunlight).

• At a humidity below 65%

• Protected from light sources e.g., sunlight or intense artificial light and especially ultraviolet light.

• Areas of storage should not be located near or contain ozone generating equipment, e.g., electric motors, switch gear, fluorescent lights, mercury vapor lights, and ultra violet lights.

• Storage areas should be well ventilated as a build up of combustion gases could give rise to ozone, which being heavier than air, will accumulate in low areas.

• Gloves should be stored away from ionizing radiation which will break down the vulcanization bonds, thereby weakening the gloves.

• Organic solvents, petroleum based oils and grease should not contact the gloves as they will degrade the rubber.

• Copper, manganese and other heavy metals should not contact the gloves as they will react with the residual accelerators and degrade the gloves.

• Contact with sharp surfaces or objects could damage the packaging or the gloves. In the case of pre-sterilized gloves, this would render them un-sterile.

• As gloves have an expiry date it is important to observe a strict “first in, first out” stock rotation policy.

• Medical product storage must be dust and rodent free in case the packaging becomes contaminated rendering the products unusable.

FDA,( USA) Guidelines on storage of chlorinated latex gloves

• Do not store large quantities of powder free latex gloves in conditions of extreme heat. The FDA consider one pallet or more to be a “large quantity”.

• Remove the shrink wrap from pallets of stacked cartons, break stacked cartons on each pallet apart, and re-stack or reconfigure cartons to facilitate cooling.

• The gloves should be checked periodically for deterioration, including brittleness, tackiness, or an acrid chemical odour or stench.

(Ref : Publishing Details : Pete Phillips , Deputy Director , SMTL Revision: $Revision: 1.3 $ , Date: $Date: 1998/06/22 13:26:29 $ : http://www.smtl.co.uk/MDRC/Storage/#ID4 ).