01. Who is Maxwell Glove Manufacturing Berhad?
Maxwell Glove Manufacturing Berhad (formerly known as Spenser Glove Manufacturing Berhad) is a leading manufacturer and exporter of latex examination gloves commenced operation in 1991. Spenser Glove Manufacturing Berhad has since been known in the industry for having the most advance and efficient production lines. Located in the Bukit Merah Industrial Perak , Ipoh on 6.6 acres of land the factory has a built up area of 140,000 sq. feet. Current installed capacity is 180 million gloves per month and is expected to increase to 200 million gloves by 2004.
02. What is the difference between Latex & Latex Free?
Latex
Latex Gloves are made of natural rubber latex. They provide superior barrier protection and are considered best for fit and function. Also, they are very durable.
Latex Free: Nitrile
Nitrile Gloves (Latex Free) are an oil-based product which has similar physical characteristics of latex gloves. They stretch like rubber, although they have no latex in them. They are normally blue or green in color and offer good barrier protection. Although popular with healthcare providers, police, and industrial applications, Nitrile gloves are more expensive than either latex or vinyl gloves.
Latex Free: Vinyl
Vinyl Gloves (Latex Free) are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and are latex-free. Since vinyl gloves are not form-fitting, they fit more loosely than latex and are normally a bit less in price.
03. What are the storage guidelines for gloves?
Always store gloves in the original packaging in a cool, dry and well ventilated area. Stay away from dust, sunlight, moisture, X-ray, and excessive heat above 100 F (37 C).
04. What is natural rubber latex?
Latex is a sap produced by rubber tree, and after it is processed with heat and chemicals, it is known as natural rubber. This rubber is widely used in medical equipment and supplies, including surgical gloves.
05. What is a latex allergy?
A latex allergy, or hypersensitivity, occurs when a person's body's immune system reacts to the latex proteins and/or the additives used during the manufacturing process. The reactions range from mild: skin rash, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, to an extreme of: facial or throat swelling, and difficulty breathing.
06. How do I know if I have a latex Allergy?
The only way to know for sure if you have a true latex allergy is to have allergy testing done. Some examples of common reactions that may be sign of latex allergy problem, may include:
* Skin rashes or reactions on your hands from wearing rubber gloves.
* Rashes on your face or skin from touching it if you did not wash your hands after wearing rubber gloves.
* Skin rashes, itching, or swelling from wearing clothes with elastics next to your skin, such as a bra or underwear.
* Tingling, swelling or rashes on your lips or face after blowing up a balloon, or having rubber products near your face.
07. What should I do if I have a latex allergy?
Contact an allergist or healthcare professionals immediately to determine the cause of the allergy. You should tell the healthcare professionals before you receive care, so that products that don't contain latex can be used for your care.
08. Why don't they just use non-latex products on everyone?
This would be difficult because there is not always a latex free substitution for a product. In some instances, it would also be very expensive. Most people have no problems, and use latex products all their life. However, for some people who have developed this allergy, latex-free products are the only solution. There is also the risk of not knowing if you have an allergy to latex...The only way to truly prevent latex allergies from occurring is avoiding products that contain latex.
09. How can we prevent latex allergy?
Latex allergy can be prevented by protecting workers from latex exposure. Employers should:
* provide workers with non-latex gloves (e.g.: synthetic, Nitrile, vinyl gloves)
* ensure that workers use good housekeeping practices to remove latex-containing dust from the workplace
* provide workers with education programs about latex allergy
"Hypoallergenic" gloves are usually made from latex so latex-sensitive workers should check to see if they are made from latex or some other material.
People allergic to latex rubber products should consult an allergist to find out if they are actually allergic to latex (natural) rubber or to chemicals that are in synthetic rubbers. They should also advise their physicians and dentists so that they can decide if alternate products should be used in any treatment that normally requires the use of rubber products.
10. Why choose powder-free gloves?
Powdered gloves are used by the majority of users, accounting for nearly 70% of total glove usage. The corn starch powder makes the gloves easier to wear, and they are generally less expensive than powder-free gloves. However, the popularity of powder-free gloves has grown every year due to the increased awareness of latex allergies and the preference for a latex glove with a low-protein count. Powder-free gloves, whether they are latex or vinyl, are also preferred for use in specific environments that cannot be contaminated with powder (e.g., electronic assembly plants, laboratories, crime labs, etc.).
11. What is the chemistry between Latex allergy and glove?
Over the past few years, there has been an increasing incidence of allergic reactions among health care workers to latex medical gloves. Current estimates on the prevalence of latex allergy among health care workers range as high as 17%. This is thought to be largely due to the institution of universal precautions in response to the AIDS epidemic, and the resultant dramatic increase in glove usage. A large body of literature on this subject has built up in the allergy, immunology, and nursing journals, but there have been relatively few publications in the surgical literature, so many surgeons and surgical sub specialists remain relatively ignorant in this area. This review will summarize the most important findings from this literature from the point of view of the glove user (the surgeon and nurse). A major theme of this monograph is that a latex glove, like all medical devices, has benefits as well as risks. There are potential side effects from this device, and the surgeon needs to consider these in making his or her choice of surgical glove.
12. What glove characteristics should we look for?
There are several important considerations. First, gloves offer barrier protection both for the health care worker and the patient to guard against contact with blood, other body fluids, and microorganisms. Latex has been in use for about 100 years, and has proven barrier protective capability. In a series of studies, Korniewicz and co-workers have shown that vinyl gloves have higher leakage rates than latex (less barrier effectiveness), and are therefore less suitable for surgery. They reported that although both vinyl and latex examination gloves provide protection to the user, latex gloves maintain their integrity longer under in-use conditions. The barrier effectiveness of synthetic rubber gloves is not as well established at this time as for latex.
Second, a glove needs to be comfortable. One should be able to don it (slip one's hand into it) easily, and then be able to perform surgery as if you weren't even wearing a glove at all. Again, latex excels - the synthetic materials are frequently stiffer than latex, and less comfortable to wear.
Third, cost is important. Latex gloves are usually less expensive than synthetic rubber gloves.
13. How rubber latex is harvested and processed?
Rubber latex is harvested from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree using a steel tapping knife. Tapping is done at early dawn and the latex, collected in cups, harvested several hours later and preserved with ammonia. Because of its high water content, about 70%, the latex is concentrated and purified by centrifugation to a 60% strength latex concentrate. This is the raw material for the manufacture of latex gloves.
14. How can I request for samples?
If you would like to request for samples, please fill in the enquiry form.
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