Disposable medical gloves are essential PPE used to protect the wearer and/or the patient from the spread of infection during examinations and procedures.

Medical-grade non-sterile examination gloves and sterile surgical gloves are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Class I reserved medical devices. They can be made from natural rubber latex, nitrile, polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) and other synthetics, or polyethylene (plastic).

The CDC generally recommends that two pairs of gloves be worn, so that a heavily soiled outer glove can be safely removed and replaced during patient care to avoid self-contamination. However, as hospitals nationwide experience shortages, one pair of gloves is acceptable. For the general public, experts recommend using frequent hand-washing and good hand hygiene instead of gloves.