Kimberly-Clark Professional announced the availability of new Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves for use in laboratory settings that are designed to afford users a high level of protection, durability, and comfort from a glove, according to the company.
Featuring a new dark magenta color unique to Kimberly-Clark Professional and a proprietary high-quality nitrile formulation, Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves have one of the lowest acceptable quality levels (AQL) for pinholes at 0.65 on the market, the company says. The average tensile strength is 31 megapascal (MPa) after aging, more than double the strength of the industry standard. The gloves also have been tested against some of the harshest chemicals used in labs and industrial work environments,(1) meeting and exceeding the industry standards for exam gloves.
“Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves were created with the end-user in mind and represent a new chapter in innovation for Kimberly-Clark Professional,” says Anuj Sinha, general manager, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Partnership Products, Kimberly-Clark Professional North America. “Our goal was to elevate the glove – making it more durable than our other gloves without sacrificing comfort.”
Certified by U.S. Ergonomics, Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves are designed to provide measurable ergonomic benefits to the user by improving comfort and fit and minimizing the risk factors that may cause injuries. The gloves are specifically designed to protect professionals in laboratory settings, and they are also suitable for industrial work environments, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device manufacturing and biotechnology.
“These exam gloves are typically worn for long periods, so comfort was top of mind when designing Polaris,” says Sinha. “Beyond the fit of the glove, we gave it breathability and thermal comfort resulting in a glove 80% of daily glove users found favorable versus their current glove, according to a recent study.(2)”
In addition to delivering greater comfort and superior barrier protection, Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves will also help in advancing customers’ sustainability goals, as it is recyclable through The RightCycle Program by Kimberly-Clark Professional. Through The RightCycle Program, eligible non-hazardous Kimberly-Clark Professional PPE waste, such as Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves, are collected at the end user’s facility and taken to a recycling partner where they are turned into plastic pellets used to make durable consumer goods.
Kimtech Polaris Nitrile Exam Gloves do not contain silicone,(3) are food contact safe(4) and meet United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) <800> guidelines.(5) The gloves are available for purchase, and are being stocked by a large number of scientific and industrial distributors.
Further reading: Safer, More Sustainable Lab Coat Launched by AmorSui
References:
- Tested against 29 common chemicals, Chemotherapy Drugs, Opioid Fentanyl Citrate, Simulated Gastric Acid and Fentanyl in Simulated Gastric Acid: Per ASTM D 6978-05.
- Based on 2023 US Ergonomics competitive field test results.
- Does not contain silicone according to results obtained using test method SAE AMS 3819C.
- Meets FDA food contact requirements set forth in 21 CFR 177.2600 and Canada food handling requirements as per the Canada Foor and Drugs Act and Regulations.
- Reference General Chapter USP <800> Section 7.1 Gloves when used for non-sterile compounding applications.
