Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who this is for: clinic staff, buyers and students who need to know what a chloroprene (neoprene) glove is, which standard covers the examination version, and why the material name alone does not tell you how a glove will perform against a chemical.
What are chloroprene (neoprene) gloves?
Chloroprene gloves are made from polychloroprene, a synthetic rubber widely known by the trade name neoprene. They are latex-free. They are sold in two settings: as medical examination gloves and as chemical-handling gloves. Clinic staff, laboratory workers and other people who need hand protection use them, and the glove should be matched to the task rather than the material name.
How are examination gloves built and standardized?
ASTM D6977-19 (reapproved 2023), Standard Specification for Polychloroprene Examination Gloves for Medical Application, covers polychloroprene rubber gloves used for medical examinations and for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Key points from the standard’s scope:
- Any polychloroprene rubber compound may be used, and the inside and outside surfaces must be free of talc.
- It covers gloves that fit either hand, paired gloves and gloves sold by size, packaged sterile, packaged non-sterile or in bulk non-sterile.
- The tests it names are sterility, freedom from holes, physical dimensions, tensile strength and ultimate elongation (before and after accelerated aging), powder-free residue and powder amount.
- It is described as similar to ASTM D3578 (rubber examination gloves) and ASTM D6319 (nitrile examination gloves).
In the United States, medical gloves are regulated by the FDA as Class I reserved medical devices that require a 510(k) premarket notification, and the FDA requires manufacturers to identify the materials used on the package labeling.
Types: examination versus chemical-handling
| Type | Typical use | Key difference (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Polychloroprene examination glove | Medical examinations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures | Has its own specification, ASTM D6977; talc-free surfaces; sterile or non-sterile (ASTM D6977-19) |
| Nitrile examination glove | Medical examinations | Covered by a separate specification, ASTM D6319 (named in ASTM D6977-19) |
| Natural rubber latex examination glove | Medical examinations | Rubber examination gloves fall under ASTM D3578 (named in ASTM D6977-19); FDA notes some people are allergic to natural rubber latex |
| Chemical-handling glove (any material) | Work where hands are exposed to hazardous substances | Selected under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 by evaluating performance for the task, conditions, duration and hazards |
Neoprene vs nitrile gloves
Both materials have a published examination-glove standard (ASTM D6977 for polychloroprene, ASTM D6319 for nitrile). Neither name guarantees a level of chemical resistance. A CDC/NIOSH study by Hall and Mickelsen (American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 1987) tested eight nitrile products of similar nominal thickness against perchloroethylene and found mean breakthrough times from 30 to 300 minutes, with large variation between products carrying the same generic name. Five neoprene products tested with n-butyl acetate, n-hexane and ethanol also varied. All but one product measured differently from its nominal thickness, by up to 40 percent. The authors concluded that substituting a generically equivalent glove may lead to unexpected exposures. This is a 1987 study of products of that period, not a current rating of any glove, so it supports the point that the supplier’s chemical data for the specific glove is what counts, not a comparison of material names.
For the nitrile side of this comparison, see what a nitrile glove is; for chemical selection in detail, see the chemical-resistant glove selection guide and how to read glove breakthrough-time data.
Neoprene vs latex
The practical documented difference is allergy. The FDA states that some people are allergic to the natural rubber latex used in some medical gloves. Neoprene is a synthetic polychloroprene rather than natural rubber latex. The FDA medical gloves page names natural rubber latex, PVC, nitrile and polyurethane but not polychloroprene, so it should not be read as an FDA statement about neoprene gloves. Because the FDA requires the materials to be identified on the package labeling, the label is where to confirm what a given glove is made of. See also what a latex glove is and nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves.
How to choose
Two criteria come from the US hand-protection rule. First, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138(a) requires employers to select and require appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns and harmful temperature extremes. Second, 1910.138(b) bases that selection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task, the conditions present, the duration of use and the hazards identified. For clinical use, the package labeling identifies the material.
Safe use and handling basics
- The package labeling identifies the material.
- Where a chemical is involved, evaluate the specific glove against the task, conditions, duration and hazards, as 1910.138(b) describes.
- Do not assume that two gloves with the same material name perform alike (Hall and Mickelsen, 1987).
Common mistakes
- Treating “neoprene” as a chemical rating instead of evaluating the specific glove for the task.
- Assuming labeled thickness is exact: in the 1987 study all but one product differed from its nominal thickness, by up to 40 percent.
- Attributing neoprene claims to the FDA, whose medical gloves page lists latex, PVC, nitrile and polyurethane.
FAQ
What is neoprene gloves?
Gloves made from polychloroprene, a latex-free synthetic rubber known by the trade name neoprene, sold as examination gloves (ASTM D6977) or for chemical handling.
How do nitrile and neoprene gloves compare?
Neither material name settles the question. Chemical resistance varied widely between products of the same material in the CDC/NIOSH study, and OSHA 1910.138(b) requires selection by task, conditions, duration and hazards.
What is the difference between neoprene and latex gloves?
Latex gloves are made of natural rubber latex, to which some people are allergic (FDA). Neoprene is a synthetic polychloroprene. The package labeling must identify the material.
Is there a standard for neoprene examination gloves?
Yes: ASTM D6977-19 (reapproved 2023), a specification for polychloroprene examination gloves for medical application.
Sources
- ASTM D6977-19 (2023), Standard Specification for Polychloroprene Examination Gloves for Medical Application, store.astm.org/d6977-19.html, checked 2026-10-30.
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.138 Hand protection, osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.138, checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA, Medical Gloves, fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/medical-gloves, checked 2026-10-30.
- Hall and Mickelsen, A breakthrough time comparison of nitrile and neoprene glove materials produced by different glove manufacturers, Am Ind Hyg Assoc J, 1987, stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185552, checked 2026-10-30.
