Gloves, Masks & PPE: How to Choose and Stock
Nitrile, latex, or vinyl? Procedure mask or N95? This is the plain-spoken reference for picking PPE that actually protects, sizing it right, and stocking sensible quantities — whether you're a family caregiver or running a small clinic.
Wound & ConsumablesNitrile vs. latex vs. vinyl — the honest trade-offs
Nitrile is the modern default: strong puncture resistance, no latex-protein allergy risk, and good chemical resistance. It costs a little more than vinyl but earns it in clinical and caregiving work where barrier integrity matters.
Latex still offers the best fit and tactile feel, which is why some procedural users prefer it — but latex allergies are real and can be severe, both for the wearer and the patient. Most facilities have moved away from it for exactly that reason.
Vinyl is the budget option, and here's where a cheaper choice is genuinely the right one: low-risk, non-clinical tasks like food prep, light cleaning, or brief contact with intact skin. Vinyl is fine there. It is not the glove for bloodborne-pathogen exposure or prolonged procedures, where its weaker barrier and looser fit let it down.
A procedure mask is not an N95 — know which job you're doing
A procedure or surgical mask is a fluid barrier. It catches the wearer's droplets and blocks splashes — useful, and the right tool for most routine care and visitor situations. It does not seal to your face, so it won't filter the fine airborne particles you'd want stopped during aerosol-generating procedures.
An N95 respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles and forms a seal — which only works if it's fit-tested and worn correctly. A bearded face, the wrong size, or a poor seal turns a respirator back into an ordinary mask. If your setting requires N95-level protection, budget for fit-testing and seal checks; the respirator alone isn't the whole answer.
How to choose PPE, step by step
Work from the task and the exposure, not from the price tag. The right level of protection is the one matched to what you're actually doing.
Name the exposure
Intact skin, body fluids, splashes, or airborne particles? The hazard sets the floor for every other choice. Don't over-buy for low-risk tasks or under-protect for high-risk ones.
Pick the material for the risk
Nitrile for clinical and caregiving work, vinyl for low-risk non-clinical tasks, and avoid latex unless you've ruled out allergy for everyone involved.
Get the size and seal right
A glove too loose tears and slips; a mask that gapes doesn't protect. Buy a size range, and treat respirator fit as part of the purchase, not an afterthought.
Check the quality marks
Look for an AQL rating on exam gloves (1.5 or better for medical use), and a recognized standard or NIOSH approval on respirators. Quality marks are how you tell a barrier from a placebo.
Set a par level and reorder point
Decide your normal on-hand quantity and the threshold that triggers a reorder. PPE you ran out of protects no one — but a closet full of expiring stock is waste, too.
Sensible stocking: caregiver vs. small clinic
Par levels are about matching supply to real demand. Here's how the two ends of the spectrum differ — and the round things out with gowns and basic protection.
Home caregiver par levels
A box or two of nitrile gloves in the right sizes, a small supply of procedure masks, and a few gowns or aprons for messier care. Buy in modest quantities you'll use before they age, and reorder when you hit roughly a week's reserve.
Get a caregiver stocking listSmall clinic par levels
Higher throughput means standing par levels per glove size, masks at every room, and a defined N95 reserve for the procedures that need them. Track usage so reorder points reflect real burn rate, not guesswork.
Plan clinic par levelsGowns & basic PPE
Isolation gowns, aprons, and eye protection round out the kit. Match gown level to splash risk — a fluid-resistant gown for routine contact, a higher barrier for procedures — and don't forget face shields where splashes are likely.
Round out your PPE kitFrequently asked questions
Are powder-free gloves worth it?
Yes, for almost everyone. Glove powder can carry allergens, irritate skin, and contaminate wounds or sterile fields. Powder-free has become the standard in clinical settings for good reason, and the small price difference is worth it.
How do I know if a glove's barrier is good enough?
Check the AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) — it measures the rate of pinhole defects. For medical use, look for an AQL of 1.5 or lower; the smaller the number, the fewer defects allowed. A glove with no stated quality mark is a glove you can't vouch for.
Is cheap PPE a false economy?
Often, yes. A bargain glove that tears mid-task, or a mask that doesn't seal, costs you a fresh one plus the exposure risk in between. That said, cheaper isn't always wrong — vinyl gloves for low-risk, non-clinical tasks are a smart save. The skill is matching cost to risk, not buying the cheapest of everything or the priciest.
Do I need to fit-test N95 respirators at home?
If you're a family caregiver in a situation that genuinely calls for N95-level protection, a careful seal check each time you put one on is the realistic minimum. Formal fit-testing is a clinic-and-facility practice — but the principle holds: a respirator that doesn't seal isn't doing its job, so don't assume the box equals protection.
What's a reasonable PPE shelf life to plan around?
Most gloves and masks carry a multi-year shelf life when stored cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. The practical risk isn't expiry so much as over-buying — stock what you'll reasonably use, store it well, and rotate oldest-first so nothing ages out unused.
Not sure what to stock?
Tell us who's using the PPE and what tasks they're doing, and a supply specialist will help you match material, size, and par levels to your real needs — no upsell, just the right kit.