Ensure your laboratory gloves are Personal Protective Equipment Category III (Complex Design) that must undergo regular external auditing by a Notified Body. PPE Cat. III gloves are designed for protection against mortal or irreversible risks, making them essential for laboratory work involving chemicals and biological hazards. Look for the 4-digit Notified Body identifier beside the CE mark on packaging—if there's no number, the gloves are not suitable for laboratory use. PPE Cat III gloves typically provide protection against chemical risks and micro-organisms, where the following standards apply: EN ISO 374-1:2016+A1:2018 requirements for chemical risks and EN ISO 374-5:2016 requirements for microorganism protection.

When handling chemicals, always check the chemical’s safety data sheet (SDS) and the glove manufacturer’s chemical breakthrough times table when selecting gloves.

• Nitrile proves to be a reliable protection against oils, fats, acids, and bases in the pH range 4–10. However, be aware of organic solvents: for chemicals like acetone, where breakthrough can occur in less than a minute with thin 0.13 mm gloves.
• Latex scores best for elasticity and tactile sensitivity – ideal for precise biological work. The downside: according to the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) between 1 and 1.37 per cent of the general European population are allergic to latex. The figures for healthcare workers are generally higher. Latex is poor for organic solvents, oils, and grease.
• Neoprene offers superior protection for strong acids and bases (pH 11–14), phenols, and inorganic solvents, making it the best option when handling harsh chemicals. However, neoprene gloves are not suitable for food contact and perform poorly with organic solvents. 

Refer to the manufacturer’s tables for chemical breakthrough times. Because: once the chemical is on the skin, it’s too late. A breakthrough time of 30 minutes is considered standard protection, 240 minutes as very high protection. EN16523 permeation test range is 0–480 minutes. Single-use gloves provide splash protection only and must be changed as soon as they come into contact with a chemical. Therefore, it is very important to keep in mind that breakthrough times are to be used a guide only.

Breakthrough is measured under controlled laboratory conditions which do not replicate real-life situations – in practice, actual values are often significantly lower, as ambient temperature and mechanical stress from hand movements reduce protection.  Tools, like StarGuard® Select, help to quickly find suitable gloves. Laboratory staff simply enter up to five chemicals into the online tool. Based on extensive breakthrough time tests, the tool shows which gloves are the most suitable.

Balancing safety concerns and user comfort is a requirement. Use thinner gloves (4–5 mil ≈ 0.10–0.13 mm) when dexterity is crucial, and thicker gloves (8+ mil ≈ 0.20 mm) when chemical protection is a priority.

If gloves are too tight, they can cause hand fatigue and a reduced range of motion. Too loose, and the wearer loses dexterity and efficiency, and increases the risk of accidents and spills, or the gloves getting caught in laboratory equipment.

Studies show: in 30% of hand injuries, users wore inadequate, damaged, or the wrong type of glove for the hazard, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics The glove should fit snugly without being tight, form no folds at the fingers, and offer 2 to 3 cm of space at the wrist.

Latex allergies can range from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis, so avoid latex gloves completely if anyone in your lab is allergic. Any glove material may cause skin sensitivities, which is often due to the chemical accelerators used in glove manufacturing. Products like StarGuard^® Sensitive which are accelerator-free, carry the FDA authorisation ‘Low Dermatitis Potential’ and have been clinically proven to reduce skin irritation.

Change single-use gloves at least every 2 to 3 hours – and immediately in case of visible contamination, tears, or chemical contact. This reliably maintains the protective effect.

Check gloves before use by inflating them to detect micro-holes and by visual inspection. Look for any signs of deterioration such as discoloration, brittleness, tears, punctures, or changes in texture that could compromise the protective barrier.

Maintain a tiered glove inventory system to balance safety and budget effectiveness. Reserve high-performance, expensive chemical protection gloves exclusively for high-risk tasks involving hazardous substances, while using more economical general-purpose gloves for routine laboratory work. This targeted approach ensures cost efficiency by preventing expensive specialty gloves from being wasted on low-risk tasks, while guaranteeing that each task is matched with the appropriate level of protection.

The best quality is useless if gloves are stored incorrectly. Store protective single-use gloves in a dry, cool area that is protected from light – ideally at 10 to 30 °C. Direct sunlight, proximity to heaters, or high humidity will accelerate material degradation. This significantly reduces the gloves dexterity and levels of protection. Also pay attention to the expiration date on the packaging: this provides a safe window before  any material changes may occur.