Kimberly-Clark Purple Nitrile-Xtra Exam Gloves
Priced as of May 18, 2026
4.3(155 ratings)Buy on AmazonSaved to your guest loadout. Sign up to also save to your Cabinet (consumables) or Kit (tools you own).
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Prices may varyAbout this rating. This rating is our editorial opinion, not a statement of fact. It reflects the product's published SDS data (where applicable), the manufacturer's stated certifications (such as NIOSH approval or ANSI markings), and patterns across verified-purchase user reviews flagged by the retailer. It is informational, not a safety determination for any user, task, or environment. Before using this product, check the certification markings on the manufacturer's label and follow the manufacturer's fit, use, and care instructions. For workplace use, your employer's PPE program and OSHA hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132 govern selection — not this page.
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CarCareTruth's Analysis
Last reviewed May 19, 2026
TL;DR EN 374-1 Type B (JKT chemicals) nitrile at 5.9mil with a 12" beaded cuff and AQL 1.0 (ASTM D6319 medical-exam grade) — the extended cuff is the differentiator for detailers who need wrist coverage during engine-bay reach-in or solvent pours. The Type B classification documents breakthrough resistance against n-Heptane, Sodium Hydroxide, and Sulphuric Acid; per-chemical breakthrough times are not published in accessible sources. Confirmed latex-free and powder-free. Skip for sustained brake cleaner or naphtha contact — choose an EN 374-1 Type A neoprene or butyl glove with documented hydrocarbon breakthrough levels for that work.
What it is and how it performs
A 5.9mil powder-free nitrile exam glove with a 12" beaded cuff and textured fingertips — the Nitrile-Xtra suffix distinguishes it from Kimtech's 9.5" standard-cuff Purple Nitrile. EN 374-1 Type B classification (confirmed on the Ansell international product page post-2023 acquisition) means the glove passed breakthrough testing against three chemicals: n-Heptane (J), Sodium Hydroxide (K), and Sulphuric Acid (T), each at level 2 or higher (breakthrough time exceeding 30 minutes). AQL 1.0 is disclosed on the Ansell US product page — medical-exam grade, exceeding ASTM D6319's AQL 2.5 minimum. ASTM D6978 chemotherapy drug clearance also confirmed. Community response across 155 Amazon reviews at 4.3 stars shows no widespread donning-tear pattern or batch-inconsistency reports; the 5.9mil construction sits at the upper end of standard disposable nitrile range.
Who should buy this — and who should skip it
The 12" cuff makes this the correct Kimtech variant for detailers who regularly pour chemicals, reach into engine bays, or work forearm-deep in wash buckets — the extended coverage closes the wrist-exposure gap that a 9.5" cuff leaves open. The Type B classification and AQL 1.0 give it credible chemical resistance documentation for IPA splash, dilute APC, and water-based wash chemistry. Skip for sustained contact with brake cleaner, naphtha, or MEK — the Type B cert does not cover those solvents at documented permeation levels; an EN 374-1 Type A neoprene or butyl glove with published breakthrough tables for hydrocarbons is the right spec. Skip the case listing (500 gloves) if you're an occasional home detailer — the single-box variants (50 gloves, B003EV6XQ2 for Small) are the right buy.
Safety and environmental impact
Health score is 9.5 — nitrile construction with confirmed latex-free and powder-free status means no allergen or contamination pathway from the glove material itself. Environment score reflects the disposable-nitrile reality: lifecycle and waste/shedding both score at category default (6) because these are single-use gloves with no confirmed per-unit waste reduction for individual users. Recyclability reaches 9 through the Kimberly-Clark RightCycle program (confirmed active), which accepts used Kimtech gloves — though RightCycle enrollment is primarily institutional and accessibility for individual home users has not been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'EN 374-1 Type B' actually mean for detailing work?▾
EN 374-1 Type B means the glove has been tested against three specific chemicals — n-Heptane (J), Sodium Hydroxide (K), and Sulphuric Acid (T) — and passed breakthrough level 2 or higher (breakthrough time over 30 minutes) on all three. n-Heptane is an aliphatic hydrocarbon that serves as a proxy for mineral spirits and similar solvents common in detailing, so the JKT classification confirms meaningful chemical resistance for IPA splash, dilute APC, and water-based wash chemistry. Type B does not cover every chemical — brake cleaner solvents (naphtha, heptane under sustained contact) require Type A with documented breakthrough levels for those specific hydrocarbons.
Why is the cuff 12 inches when most nitrile gloves are 9.5 inches?▾
The 12" cuff is the defining feature of the Nitrile-Xtra line. Standard 9.5" cuffs expose the wrist during reach-in tasks — engine bay work, pouring from jugs, or forearm-deep washing. The extra 2.5" of beaded-cuff coverage closes that exposure gap. If your detailing work stays at hand level and you prefer lighter material, the standard Kimtech Purple Nitrile (9.5") is the right step down.
Is the AQL 1.0 or 1.5? Different sites say different things.▾
The Ansell US product page (the authoritative source post-2023 acquisition) lists AQL 1.0 for the US market product. The Ansell international page lists 0.65. A distributor page (SOSCleanroom) lists 1.5. The score uses 1.0 as the confirmed US-market value from the manufacturer's own page. All three figures exceed the ASTM D6319 minimum standard of AQL 2.5, so the practical pinhole rate is low regardless of which source you use.
Kimberly-Clark or Ansell — who makes these now?▾
Kimberly-Clark sold the Kimtech glove division to Ansell in 2023. Existing inventory continues to circulate under the Kimberly-Clark/Kimtech brand name, and the product page at kcprofessional.com redirects to the Ansell Kimtech product listing post-acquisition. The manufacturing spec (5.9mil, 12" cuff, EN 374-1 Type B JKT) is unchanged under Ansell ownership.
Can I recycle these through RightCycle?▾
Kimtech gloves are eligible for the Kimberly-Clark RightCycle program. RightCycle is primarily an institutional enrollment program (hospitals, labs, manufacturing facilities) — accessibility for individual home users has not been confirmed. If your detailing operation generates enough glove volume to justify institutional enrollment, the program is active. Individual detailers are likely to landfill-dispose.
From the manufacturer
Marketing copy from Kimberly-Clark, via Amazon. Not editorial.
- •Halyard
- •Kimberly Clark
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Manufacturer specifications
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer
- No
- Product Dimensions
- 11.03 x 10.56 x 13.23 inches; 1 Pounds
- Item model number
- 50601
- Department
- unisex-adult
- Date First Available
- May 6, 2008
- Manufacturer
- Kimberly-Clark
- ASIN
- B00IQDSDBQ
- Best Sellers Rank
- See Top 100 in Health & Household
- Brand Name
- Kimberly-Clark
- Unit Count
- 1 Count
- Age Range Description
- Adult
- Item Weight
- 1 Pounds
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Top Amazon review
↗External — Amazon's most-helpful review for context.
Excellent
These are gloves of choice. Been a nurse for many years now. Have used many many types of gloves. These fit well, don't tear or shred and go on very easily. I wear a small in this brand...most brands I have to go up to a medium to get them on easily. Mediums overall are too loose, especially for putting in IVs. I buy these for myself and take them to work as I hate the gloves that are provided where I work now.Excellent gloves. Try a box at a time until you find the size you prefer. I am average size woman with average size hands for my build and smalls go on smoothly and fit like skin after they are on.