An array of professions need powerful hand protection. There are two basic kinds of gloves: disposable and reusable. Disposable gloves are used in medical, laboratory, industrial and several other industries where contamination of some sort or another can be a concern. Disposable gloves are usually designed to prevent the worker, or the work, from coming in contact with dangerous substances or contaminants. Reusable gloves are generally very sturdy work gloves, designed to hold up to a great deal of punishment. They are used in industries such as construction, mechanics, custodial, and any other industry where the actual work, as opposed to the substance you are working with, can damage the hands.

Far more disposable gloves are sold in any given year then reusable gloves. Depending on the industry, however, the reusable gloves can need something slightly different -- medical industries need sterile gloves that prevent bacteria and viruses from coming in contact with the worker, laboratory industries need gloves that will stand up to spills of dangerous chemicals such as acids and poisons.

For this reason, many manufacturers of disposable gloves offer a variety of options, many designed with specific industries in mind. Microflex, an industry leader since 1988, has had the most success in developing and marketing gloves for medical industries, but also makes gloves designed to fit the needs of laboratory work, industrial work, automotive work, and dental work. Because keeping hands safe can be crucial to a workers health, and ability to continue doing their job, Microflex believes it is very important that gloves come from a manufacturer with a proven record of quality and product consistency.

Going that extra mile, Microflex offers gloves made from various materials. With the increasing number of reported latex allergies in recent years, combined with the quest for lighter, more flexible gloves that still give protection, led to the development of several other materials. The rarest materials for disposable gloves are vinyl and chloroprene. Microflex actually offers on two varieties of gloves made out of either material. Nitrile, the fourth material Microflex uses, sees much more use, in about as many glove varieties as latex. Nitrile has the advantage being entirely synthetic.

Microflex gloves come in a variety of sizes, from extra small to extra large, with several varieties offering extended cuffs; some varieties come powered to be easily put on and taken off, others have no powder, for those who find it uncomfortable. They generally package their gloves 100 gloves per box, and 10 boxes per case. If you work in an industry that requires hand protection, getting good protection is important. Be aware of the option, and you industries needs, and make sure you get the best.