Protecting the hands of workers in sterile work environments is vital to the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. Ansell, a global leader in personal protection solutions, has introduced TouchNTuff 83-500 Sterile Polyisoprene Gloves and TouchNTuff 93-700 Sterile Nitrile Gloves to fill this need. The new latex-free TouchNTuff gloves were developed in response to a global study[i] among more than 130 wearers of single-use gloves across the life sciences segments. The study found that fit and comfort, along with using a material not made from latex, were important factors to glove wearers.The new TouchNTuff gloves address both factors while maintaining the strength and durability necessary to fulfill the dual roles of protecting wearers from coming into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals or agents, and protecting products from contamination by bare hands.

The global pharmaceutical market is expected to grow to more than $975 billion in sales by 2013[ii], thereby increasing the need for sterile manufacturing environments. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the primary tool used in sterile environments to prevent product contamination and minimize worker contact with chemical agents, has historically centered on natural rubber latex gloves. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates as many as 17 percent of people are allergic to latex[iii],  so the pharmaceutical industry has started moving away from using natural rubber gloves, requiring PPE manufacturers to create alternative solutions for hand protection. In creating the TouchNTuff Sterile glove series, Ansell worked closely with customers to understand these unique needs.