Gloves Are a Contamination Control Tool: Why Cleanroom Nitrile Selection Directly Affects Residue, Particles, and Process Stability
The Technical Vault
By SOSCleanroom
ISO 14644 Personnel Controls
USP Contamination Risk
Low-Ionic & Low-Residue Control
Operator-Induced Contamination
Technique Repeatability
Ansell 93-311 Nitrilite® — what this cleanroom nitrile glove is designed to control
Ansell 93-311 Nitrilite® is a cleanroom-qualified nitrile glove designed for use in Class 100 / ISO 5 and cleaner environments
where operator hands represent one of the highest contamination risks. Gloves are not simply PPE; they are a process interface.
Any material that touches tools, swabs, wipers, or product-contact surfaces must be controlled for particles, extractables, and residue transfer.
93-311 is selected when processes are sensitive to ionic contamination, surface residues, and inconsistent glove behavior.
Accelerator-free nitrile chemistry helps reduce the risk of chemical residues that can interfere with optics, electronics, pharmaceutical compounding,
and precision manufacturing workflows. Consistent thickness and surface finish support predictable grip and tactile feedback, which directly affects
cleaning technique and handling discipline.
Operations takeaway: In controlled environments, glove selection influences downstream contamination just as much as swabs, wipers,
or cleaning chemistries. The glove is the first contact point in most processes.
ISO-first context: personnel are the dominant contamination source
ISO 14644-5 identifies personnel as the primary contamination source in cleanrooms. Gloves are a critical barrier between operators and controlled
surfaces, tools, and materials. Glove material, surface cleanliness, and donning discipline directly affect particle shedding, residue transfer,
and process repeatability. A glove that performs well mechanically but introduces extractables or particles undermines the contamination control system.
USP-controlled environments apply the same principle: hand contact must be controlled, documented, and appropriate for the risk level of the activity.
Even in non-sterile workflows, glove residues can interfere with cleaning validation, analytical results, or visual inspection outcomes.
Technical data summary (reference — consult current manufacturer documentation for controlled programs)
| SKU |
Ansell 93-311 |
| Material |
Nitrile (accelerator-free) |
| Cleanroom compatibility |
Class 100 / ISO 5 and cleaner |
| Primary use intent |
Low-particle, low-residue hand protection for controlled environments |
| Sterility |
Non-sterile (select sterile glove programs if required) |
Receiving control note: For validated or defect-sensitive processes, capture lot numbers and ensure no glove substitutions
occur without documented approval.
Best-practice use (donning discipline, handling control, and change frequency)
Best practice begins with proper donning. Gloves should be donned in accordance with gowning SOPs, ensuring hands are clean and dry before use.
Avoid snapping or stretching the glove excessively, as this can generate particles. Once donned, gloves should only contact approved cleanroom
surfaces, tools, and materials.
During cleaning or handling tasks, gloves frequently become the dominant contamination vector due to contact with swabs, wipers, and solvents.
Change gloves immediately if they contact non-controlled surfaces, become visibly soiled, or lose surface integrity. In solvent-heavy workflows,
define glove change intervals in the SOP to prevent residue transfer and chemical degradation of the glove surface.
For precision cleaning and optics-adjacent work, gloves should be considered a consumable control—not a cost-saving item. Extending glove use
beyond defined limits is a common root cause of residue transfer, streaking, and rework.
Typical cleanroom failures and how to avoid them (ISO & USP perspective)
- Residue transfer to surfaces: Gloves overloaded with solvent or contamination. Prevention: defined change frequency and glove discipline.
- Particles after handling: Non-cleanroom gloves or poor donning technique. Prevention: ISO-qualified gloves and proper gowning.
- Inconsistent cleaning outcomes: Gloves interfere with tactile feedback. Prevention: consistent glove thickness and fit.
- Chemical incompatibility: Gloves degrade or shed. Prevention: match glove chemistry to solvents used.
- Unauthorized substitutions: Different glove introduced without evaluation. Prevention: lock glove SKUs in SOPs and procurement.
Suggested companion products and technical rationale
SOSCleanroom recommends pairing cleanroom gloves with compatible swabs, wipers, and cleaning solutions to maintain end-to-end contamination control.
The glove sets the baseline; the rest of the process builds on it.
Defensible pairing principle: Gloves control operator contamination; swabs and wipers control contact geometry and pickup;
solutions control solvency and drying behavior.
Disclaimer
This Technical Vault content is provided for general operational guidance and procurement planning only. It does not replace facility SOPs,
validation protocols, quality risk assessments, environmental monitoring programs, or manufacturer documentation.
Always follow applicable ISO standards, USP chapters, and site-specific procedures. Ansell 93-311 gloves are non-sterile;
select sterile gloves when required by your workflow.
Questions? Email Sales@SOSsupply.com or call (214) 340-8574.
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