The reliability of surgical and examination gloves has become a major concern among health care professionals as HIV and other viral diseases have spread. Current testing regulations and methods are not adequate to insure the level of protection which is now being demanded by the industry. The proposed research will test the feasibility of a production test using volatile halogenated compounds to detect and quantify leaks in surgical and examination gloves. Theoretical calculations show that these gases can detect holes that are one order of magnitude smaller that viruses. A halogen tracer gas test could provide a cost-effective and reliable way to test surgical and examination gloves. Research will focus on the development of the apparatus and methodology to test gloves, quantification of the technique parameters, and proposals for new standards.
