Medical golves from Guayule latex

Manufacturer:Can we use Guayule latex for making medical gloves? Is it really hypoallergenic in the long term? We heard that ASTM had approved Guayule latex for medical devices. Is that true?

JohnWoon:Yes, you can use Guayule latex for a wide range of latex products including medical gloves. This latex has been proven to have very low level of natural protein which is different from the allergenic protein you find in Hevea latex. Also, tests done so far have proven that latex products made from Guayule latex do not induce allergenic reaction to subjects who are already sensitive to Hevea latex products.

The question whether Guayule latex would still remain hypoallergenic and not result in eventual sensitisation to some individuals after prolonged usage and exposure remains a question. Only time could tell.

ASTM (The American Society for Testing and Materials) does not "approve" Guayule latex. What happened was they had approved a new Standard Specification to include Guayule latex (NRGL) as another alternative natural rubber latex to be used beside Hevea latex (NRL). Also, a specification of less than 200 micrograms of total protein per gram of dry weight of latex and no detectable proteins according to the ASTM standard for quantifying allergy-triggering proteins in latex are applicable to NRGL (not to NRL at this stage)

However the main concern from the market is its high cost and limited capacity at the present moment.

You are at the site for answers and solutions to all your problems in natural rubber latex processing and manufacturing of medical gloves, condoms, catheters, baby teats and baby pacfiers.