Medical Exam Gloves for Skilled Nursing, DME, and Home Care Providers
Geriatric Medical supplies medical gloves in wholesale volumes to skilled nursing facilities, long-term care communities, DME/HME providers, and home care agencies nationwide. Our catalog includes nitrile, latex, and vinyl exam gloves, sterile gloves, general purpose and cotton gloves, and wall-mounted glove dispensers, so your team can standardize one of your highest-volume supply items with one distributor.
Whether you're setting a facility-wide glove standard, balancing cost against protection across different tasks, or supplying home care clinicians in the field, our team can help you match glove material, thickness, and sizing to your staff and order volume.
Medical Glove Questions from Providers
What types of medical gloves does Geriatric Medical carry?
We carry nitrile exam gloves, latex exam gloves, vinyl exam gloves, sterile gloves, general purpose and cotton gloves, and glove dispensers. Exam gloves are available in a full range of sizes and in case quantities for facility and provider ordering.
What's the difference between nitrile, latex, and vinyl exam gloves?
Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rubber, offer strong puncture and chemical resistance, and are latex-free, which makes them the most common choice for patient care in healthcare facilities. Latex gloves offer excellent fit, comfort, and tactile sensitivity, but they aren't suitable for staff or residents with latex allergies. Vinyl gloves are the most economical option and are latex-free, but they're looser fitting and less durable, so they're best suited to short, low-risk tasks like food handling or light cleaning rather than extended patient care or contact with bodily fluids.
When should staff use sterile gloves instead of exam gloves?
Sterile gloves are used for procedures that require sterile technique, such as inserting a urinary catheter or certain wound care procedures, where the goal is to avoid introducing microorganisms into the body. Non-sterile exam gloves are used for routine care like bathing, incontinence care, and handling bodily fluids, where the goal is to protect the caregiver and the resident from contamination. Facilities typically stock both, with exam gloves making up the large majority of glove usage.
What makes a glove "medical grade" or exam grade?
Medical exam gloves are regulated by the FDA as medical devices and must meet quality standards for barrier protection, including pinhole testing against an acceptable quality level (AQL). Exam-grade gloves are intended for patient care, while non-medical gloves such as food service or industrial gloves aren't cleared for that use. When comparing gloves for clinical use, confirm the product is labeled as a medical exam glove.
Are powdered medical gloves still available?
No. The FDA banned powdered surgeon's gloves and powdered patient examination gloves in the United States because the powder poses risks to patients and healthcare workers, including airway and wound inflammation and, with latex gloves, allergic reactions. Medical exam gloves sold for patient care today are powder-free.
What does glove thickness in mil mean, and what thickness should we use?
Glove thickness is measured in mils, and one mil equals one-thousandth of an inch. Standard exam gloves typically fall in the 3 to 5 mil range, which balances protection with the dexterity staff need for routine care. Thicker gloves offer more durability and puncture resistance for heavier tasks, such as handling cleaning chemicals, but they reduce tactile sensitivity. Many facilities use a standard-thickness nitrile glove for most care and keep a thicker glove on hand for specific tasks.
What glove sizes should a facility stock?
Most facilities stock small, medium, large, and extra-large exam gloves to fit their full staff, and some also carry extra-small and XXL. Gloves that are too tight tear more easily and cause hand fatigue, while gloves that are too loose reduce dexterity and can slip. Reviewing staff sizing and usage by size helps facilities order the right mix and avoid running out of the most common sizes.
What are cotton and general purpose gloves used for?
Cotton gloves are commonly worn as liners under exam gloves to absorb moisture and reduce irritation for staff with sensitive skin, or to keep moisturizer in place on dry or cracked hands. General purpose gloves are used for non-clinical tasks such as housekeeping, maintenance, and food service. Neither type is a substitute for medical exam gloves during patient care.
Why should facilities use wall-mounted glove dispensers?
Wall-mounted glove dispensers keep gloves within reach at the point of care, such as outside resident rooms and in utility areas, which supports consistent glove use and infection control practices. Dispensers also keep boxes off counters and carts, where they can become contaminated. Most dispensers are designed to hold standard glove boxes, so check the dispenser's dimensions against the boxes you order.
Do you offer case pricing on medical gloves?
Yes. Medical gloves are available by the case, with volume pricing available for facilities and providers ordering at scale or standardizing gloves across locations.
Can we order medical gloves through EDI or a punchout catalog?
Yes. Geriatric Medical supports EDI ordering and punchout catalog integration for accounts that manage purchasing through their own procurement, EHR, or ERP systems, so medical gloves can be ordered the same way as the rest of your catalog without manual re-entry.