Quality standards
The AQL test is divided into medical gloves and industrial gloves (two levels). Medical-grade gloves have higher AQL standards. Due to higher contamination risks in the medical field, the AQL is stricter on its testing of medical-grade gloves.
AQL is a method that applies to batches of gloves and functions as a percentage. For example, in a batch of 100 gloves with an AQL of 4.0, only four gloves in the batch can fail the test in order to be deemed suitable for that rating. For medical-grade gloves the AQL is 1.5 or lower. So, if more than two gloves fail the test, the entire batch does not meet the standard. In this case, manufacturers will review the manufacturing process to determine what requires adjustment.
Glove quality testing involves various inspections. The pinhole leak test (which checks the barrier integrity) is used to determine whether the glove is suitable for medical applications or not. This is because even the smallest breach in the glove's material could expose the wearer to pathogens. In this test, the manufacturer fills the gloves with one liter of water, closes the cuffs of the gloves, and hangs the gloves upside down. Gloves that do not leak during the test are suitable for medical-grade applications.
An interesting fact about disposable gloves and AQL is that manufacturers usually produce Medical-grade and industrial-grade gloves on the same production line. Although industrial-grade gloves must pass the manufacturer's standard quality tests, they do not need to undergo FDA testing for medical purposes.
AQL is a method that applies to batches of gloves and functions as a percentage. For example, in a batch of 100 gloves with an AQL of 4.0, only four gloves in the batch can fail the test in order to be deemed suitable for that rating. For medical-grade gloves the AQL is 1.5 or lower. So, if more than two gloves fail the test, the entire batch does not meet the standard. In this case, manufacturers will review the manufacturing process to determine what requires adjustment.
Glove quality testing involves various inspections. The pinhole leak test (which checks the barrier integrity) is used to determine whether the glove is suitable for medical applications or not. This is because even the smallest breach in the glove's material could expose the wearer to pathogens. In this test, the manufacturer fills the gloves with one liter of water, closes the cuffs of the gloves, and hangs the gloves upside down. Gloves that do not leak during the test are suitable for medical-grade applications.
An interesting fact about disposable gloves and AQL is that manufacturers usually produce Medical-grade and industrial-grade gloves on the same production line. Although industrial-grade gloves must pass the manufacturer's standard quality tests, they do not need to undergo FDA testing for medical purposes.
Separating gloves into medical and industrial-grade is simply a cost-efficient way for manufacturers to ensure they are producing each grade of glove with their appropriate properties. It does not imply that one type of glove is higher in quality than the other.