ASTM D6978 is the testing standard that measures how well a disposable glove resists permeation by hazardous drugs. When a nitrile or latex glove is described as “chemo-rated,” it means the glove has been tested to ASTM D6978 and demonstrated a measured level of resistance to specific high-risk chemicals over time. It is not a marketing phrase. It is a defined laboratory standard with pass-or-fail results, and it is the benchmark most facilities and departments look for when they need gloves that protect against chemotherapy agents and other hazardous substances.
If your team handles hazardous drugs, ASTM D6978 is the number that tells you whether a glove is genuinely up to the task, or just looks like it is. This guide explains what the standard actually measures, why it matters, how to read it on a spec sheet, and how to choose the right chemo-rated glove for your facility.
Most people assume a thicker, tougher glove is automatically a safer glove. For physical hazards like tears and punctures, that is broadly true. But hazardous drugs do not threaten your hands by ripping the glove. They threaten by permeation, the process where chemicals pass through the intact glove material at a molecular level, without any visible hole or tear.
This is the critical point that ASTM D6978 addresses: a glove can be completely intact, with no rips and no punctures, and still allow a hazardous drug to reach the skin. Permeation is invisible. You cannot see it happening, and the wearer often has no way of knowing it has occurred. A glove that feels strong and looks fine can still fail to protect against the specific chemicals it was never tested against.
That is why “this glove is 6 mil thick and tear-resistant” tells you almost nothing about chemo protection. Thickness helps, but the only way to know whether a glove resists a specific hazardous drug is to test it against that drug, under controlled conditions, and measure how long it holds up. That is exactly what ASTM D6978 does.
ASTM D6978 is a standardized test method, originally established to evaluate medical gloves used for handling chemotherapy drugs. In the test, a glove material is exposed to a specific hazardous drug, and the laboratory measures the breakthrough time, the length of time before the drug permeates through the glove material at a defined rate.
A few things make this standard meaningful:
It tests against specific, named drugs. The standard uses a panel of challenge chemicals representing common, high-risk hazardous drugs. A glove is not simply “chemo-rated” in the abstract; it has been tested against particular substances, and its performance can vary from one drug to the next.
It measures time, not just pass or fail. Breakthrough time matters because no glove resists permeation forever. The question is not “does this glove block the drug,” but “how long does this glove block the drug before it should be changed.” A glove that resists permeation for a longer period gives the wearer a wider, safer margin.
It is performed under controlled laboratory conditions. The value of a standard is consistency. Because every glove tested to ASTM D6978 is evaluated the same way, you can compare results across products and manufacturers with confidence, rather than taking a vague marketing claim at face value.
In short, ASTM D6978 turns “this glove protects against hazardous drugs” from an assertion into a measurement.
If you are responsible for purchasing gloves for people who handle hazardous drugs, the stakes are real, and they are twofold.
First, there is worker safety. Repeated, low-level exposure to hazardous drugs through inadequate gloves is a genuine occupational hazard. The people relying on these gloves, nurses, pharmacy staff, lab technicians, law enforcement officers, and first responders, are trusting that the barrier on their hands actually works. Choosing a glove with verified ASTM D6978 performance is a direct investment in their protection.
Second, there is documentation and compliance. Most facilities that handle hazardous drugs operate under written safety protocols, and many must satisfy auditors, safety officers, or regulatory expectations. A glove with documented ASTM D6978 test results gives your safety and procurement teams the paperwork they need to show that the protective equipment meets a recognized standard. A glove without that documentation leaves a gap that an auditor will notice.
This is the difference between a glove that looks protective and a glove that can prove it. For high-stakes work, only the second one belongs in your facility.
When you are evaluating a chemo-rated glove, the spec sheet is where the truth lives. Here is what to look for, and what to be cautious about.
Look for the explicit reference to ASTM D6978. The spec sheet should state clearly that the glove was tested in accordance with ASTM D6978. If a product is marketed as “chemo-rated” but the spec sheet does not reference the standard, treat that as a red flag and ask for the documentation.
Check which drugs were tested. Because performance varies by chemical, a thorough spec sheet will list the specific drugs the glove was tested against and the breakthrough times for each. If your facility uses particular hazardous drugs, you want to confirm the glove was tested against the ones that matter to you.
Note the breakthrough times. Longer breakthrough times indicate a more durable barrier against that specific drug. This helps you set safe glove-change intervals and compare products meaningfully.
Do not assume thickness equals chemo rating. A heavy industrial glove is not automatically chemo-rated, and a thinner exam glove can be. The ASTM D6978 designation, not the mil thickness, is what tells you a glove has been tested for hazardous-drug permeation. Always verify the rating against the spec sheet rather than inferring it from how substantial the glove feels.
If you are ever unsure how to read a particular spec sheet, that is exactly the kind of question worth asking your supplier directly. A knowledgeable supplier should be able to walk you through what the numbers mean for your specific use.
Once you have confirmed a glove carries genuine ASTM D6978 testing, a few practical factors help you choose among the options:
Thickness and dexterity. Chemo-rated gloves range from lighter exam gauges to heavy gloves of 8 mil and above. Thinner gloves preserve fingertip sensitivity for precise tasks, while thicker gloves offer more durability and a wider safety margin for prolonged or higher-risk handling. Match the gauge to the work.
Cuff length. Standard-length gloves protect the hand and wrist, but for tasks involving reaching, pouring, or extended contact, an extended cuff that covers more of the forearm closes a gap that a standard glove leaves exposed.
Color and visibility. Many facilities choose specific colors to make a breach easier to spot, to support color-coded protocols, or simply for staff preference. Darker colors are popular for duty use; familiar medical blue makes a tear easy to see at a glance.
Latex versus nitrile. Most chemo-rated gloves are nitrile, which is latex-free and avoids the allergy concerns that come with natural rubber latex. For any facility managing latex sensitivities, nitrile is the straightforward choice.
The right glove is the one whose verified performance, gauge, and fit match how your team actually works, backed by the documentation your buyers and auditors require.
ASTM D6978 exists because hazardous drugs threaten through invisible permeation, not visible damage, and the only way to know a glove protects against them is to test it. When you see “chemo-rated,” it should mean exactly one thing: the glove was tested to ASTM D6978 and has the documented results to prove it. Anything less is a claim without evidence.
When you choose gloves for people who handle hazardous drugs, insist on that evidence. Verify the standard on the spec sheet, check the drugs tested and the breakthrough times, and match the glove to your facility’s real-world use. That is how you protect your people and satisfy your documentation requirements at the same time.
Need chemo-rated gloves with the documentation to back them up? Uncle Supply carries ASTM D6978-tested nitrile gloves in a range of thicknesses, colors, and sizes, each with the spec sheets your procurement and compliance teams need. We quote every order directly, so you get current pricing, confirmed stock, and a real person who can walk you through exactly what the numbers mean for your facility. Request a quote or call 954-751-9800.
