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    Chemo Rated
    Surgical Spec
    Biodegradable
    Exam + Surgical
    Natrle - Building a sustainable future

    ASTM D6978 Chemo Rated Gloves. For Veterinary Teams.

    Chemotherapy rated nitrile exam gloves and sterile surgical gloves for veterinary oncology. Every Natrle line is tested for resistance to permeation by cytotoxic drugs, so the barrier protecting your team is documented rather than assumed.

    D6978

    ASTM Standard

    35°C

    Test Temperature

    2

    Chemo Rated Lines

    0.65

    Surgical AQL

    ASTM D6978
    ASTM D6319
    ASTM F1671
    ASTM D3577
    Latex Free Exam
    Natrle chemo rated biodegradable nitrile exam glove case, ASTM D6978 tested
    ASTM D6978
    The Standard

    What Chemo Rated Actually Means

    Chemo rated is not a marketing term. It refers to a specific test method, ASTM D6978, that measures how long a glove resists permeation by chemotherapy drugs.

    Tested Against Real Drugs

    ASTM D6978 exposes the glove material to a panel of chemotherapy agents, not a generic solvent. Testing covers the drugs oncology teams actually handle, including doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, carboplatin and paclitaxel.

    Measured Breakthrough Time

    The test measures how long the material resists permeation before drug molecules pass through at a detectable rate. A rated glove has a documented breakthrough time rather than an assumed one.

    Tested at Working Temperature

    Permeation is measured at 35 degrees Celsius, approximating skin temperature under a glove in use, because permeation accelerates as the material warms on the hand.

    Documented, Not Implied

    A glove is only chemo rated if the manufacturer has run and can produce D6978 data. Nitrile construction alone is not a rating, and many standard nitrile exam gloves have never been tested.

    Rated Lines

    Both Natrle Glove Lines Are Chemo Rated

    Exam gloves for handling and administration, sterile surgical gloves for the sterile field. Both carry ASTM D6978 ratings.

    Natrle biodegradable nitrile exam gloves 200 count box, chemo rated to ASTM D6978
    Exam

    Natrle Biodegradable Nitrile Exam Gloves

    Chemo rated nitrile exam gloves for drug preparation, administration, patient handling and cleanup of hazardous drug waste. Latex free, powder free and textured at the fingertips for wet grip.

    • ASTM D6978 chemo rated
    • Latex free and powder free
    • 81% biodegradation in 490 days (ASTM D5511)
    • Sizes XS through XL, 100 and 200 count
    Natrle sterile latex surgical gloves box, chemo rated to ASTM D6978 with AQL 0.65
    Surgical

    Natrle Sterile Latex Surgical Gloves

    Chemo rated sterile surgical gloves for oncology procedures, surgical oncology and any sterile field where hazardous drugs may be present. AQL 0.65 pinhole inspection with anatomical precision fit.

    • ASTM D6978 chemo rated
    • AQL 0.65 inspection standard
    • Sterile, single use
    • Sizes 6.0 through 8.5
    Clinical Use

    When Chemo Rated Gloves Are Required

    Exposure risk in veterinary oncology extends well beyond the moment of administration. Cytotoxic drugs are excreted in patient waste for days after a treatment cycle, so the same barrier standard applies across the whole workflow.

    • Preparing and reconstituting cytotoxic drugs
    • Administering chemotherapy by IV, oral or intracavitary route
    • Handling patients during and after a treatment cycle
    • Managing urine, faeces and vomit from treated patients
    • Cleaning spills and disposing of hazardous drug waste
    • Handling contaminated bedding, cages and transport carriers

    Double gloving with two chemo rated pairs is standard practice for hazardous drug handling under USP General Chapter 800 and NIOSH guidance.

    Standards We Test To

    ASTM D6978Chemotherapy drug permeation resistance
    ASTM D6319Nitrile examination glove specification
    ASTM D3577Sterile surgical glove specification
    ASTM F1671Viral penetration resistance
    ASTM D5511Anaerobic biodegradation
    ASTM D5526Landfill biodegradation
    FAQ

    Chemo Rated Glove Questions

    Common questions from oncology and emergency teams about chemotherapy rated gloves.

    A chemo rated glove is a glove that has been tested to ASTM D6978, the standard test method for resistance of medical gloves to permeation by chemotherapy drugs. The glove material is exposed to a panel of cytotoxic agents at 35 degrees Celsius and the breakthrough time is measured. Only gloves with documented D6978 results can be described as chemo rated. Nitrile construction on its own does not make a glove chemo rated.

    Not automatically. Nitrile is the preferred material for chemotherapy handling because it resists permeation better than vinyl and avoids the latex protein allergy risk, but a specific glove is only chemo rated if that product has been tested to ASTM D6978. Many standard nitrile exam gloves have never been tested. Natrle nitrile exam gloves are ASTM D6978 rated.

    ASTM F739 is a general chemical permeation test used across industrial protective clothing. ASTM D6978 was written specifically for medical gloves and chemotherapy drugs. D6978 uses a lower, clinically relevant detection threshold and tests at 35 degrees Celsius to approximate the temperature of a glove worn on the hand. For hazardous drug handling in a clinical setting, D6978 is the applicable standard.

    Yes. The 2026 AAHA Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, published 2 January 2026, list double gloving as required personal protective equipment for handling hazardous drugs, and specify gloves meeting the ASTM D6319 and ASTM D6978 standards. USP General Chapter 800 and NIOSH guidance set the same expectation in human healthcare. Both pairs should be chemo rated. For sterile compounding and surgical oncology, the outer glove should be a sterile chemo rated surgical glove worn over a chemo rated inner glove.

    Change gloves every 30 to 60 minutes during hazardous drug handling, and immediately after any known contact, splash, tear or puncture. Even a glove with a long documented breakthrough time is a time limited barrier, so routine changes matter more than the rating alone.

    Yes. Veterinary oncology uses the same cytotoxic agents as human oncology, and staff are exposed during preparation, administration and for days afterward through patient waste. Chemo rated gloves are appropriate for the whole treatment cycle, not only at the moment of administration.

    Yes. Natrle nitrile exam gloves are chemo rated to ASTM D6978 and biodegradable through EcoDegra™ technology, with 81% biodegradation in 490 days recorded under ASTM D5511 and 30% biodegradation in 202 days under ASTM D5526. The biodegradation additive only activates under landfill microbial conditions, so it does not affect barrier performance or permeation resistance during use. Note that gloves contaminated with cytotoxic drugs must be disposed of as hazardous drug waste according to local regulations, not placed in general landfill.

    Chemo Rated Protection, No Eco Premium

    Natrle gloves deliver documented ASTM D6978 performance in both exam and surgical formats, with a biodegradable exam option at standard nitrile pricing.