EN ISO 374-5 sets the requirements for gloves protecting against micro-organisms. It provides two levels: basic protection against bacteria and fungi, and extended protection that includes viruses.
Tests
- Bacteria and fungi — the glove must pass air and water leak testing (AQL ≤1.5). This is the ordinary integrity check.
- Viruses — the additional ISO 16604 (method B) test with bacteriophage Phi-X174, which is much smaller and makes for a far stricter test.
Reading the pictogram
The biohazard pictogram comes in two forms. With nothing written below it, the glove protects against bacteria and fungi. With the word VIRUS below it, the glove has also passed the virus test.
For medical use the glove must additionally comply with EN 455 — chemical and biological certification do not substitute for one another. Laboratory and clinical environments frequently need both at once.
