Chemotherapy gloves are among the most essential home healthcare supplies necessary for any individual who handles or administers toxic chemotherapeutic drugs. They are found in the category of protective homecare medical equipment as a way to prevent highly toxic chemotherapy drugs from coming into contact with the skin of the hands or the wrist of the individual handling these drugs. Without the use of this type of protective glove, hands would be vulnerable to such problems as redness, inflammation and chemical burns from coming into contact with chemotherapy drugs, in addition to allowing the healthcare worker to absorb the drug into his own body through the skin, leading to toxic reactions and health issues.

A special signature of these type of medical gloves is that they are much thicker than traditional ones worn by surgeons during operations or physicians during patient examinations. Chemotherapy gloves are routinely worn by such healthcare personnel as hospital pharmacists, oncologic nurses and oncologists, laboratory technicians, individuals working in any aspect of pharmaceutical manufacturing and emergency room workers.

Since 1999, this classification of protective hand wear has been required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to meet stringent safety and performance standards. Rigorous testing is done on gloves before they can be marketed as home healthcare supplies, with one test subjecting them to at least two hours of contact with toxic chemotherapeutic drugs in order to verify that no seepage of the drug through the gloves onto skin can occur.

Chemotherapy gloves are an essential piece of homecare medical equipment for anyone who compounds chemotherapy drugs or handles this toxic substances for any length of time. There are a number of features to insist on when selecting premium brands designed to protect the wearer's hands as well as health. Gloves should follow all American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) safety guidelines. They are offered in a range of thicknesses, from 9 ml to 18 ml, the thickest kind available. The most effective chemotherapy gloves feature textured fingertips to increase the sensitivity of the user while maintaining the highest standards of safety.

Another important feature for this type of protective wear is some sort of texturing on the neoprene or latex material to allow the user to have a better grasp when handling vials, bottles or syringes. Gloves should also be hand specific in order to eliminate the problem of fatigue that usually occurs when using ambidextrous gloves. Chemotherapy gloves from tip to cuff should be long enough to provide wrist as well as hand protection, in addition to giving clear indication should the glove ever suffer a tear or puncture which would compromise the wearer's safety.