Kimtech Polaris Lab Nitrile Gloves — 5.9 Mil Exam, Chemo & Fentanyl Tested, Box of 100

Kimtech Polaris lab nitrile gloves explained

Kimtech Polaris is a premium 5.9 mil lab nitrile gloves option from Kimberly-Clark Professional — built, in the brand's words, for science. It is tested for use with fentanyl and 24 chemotherapy drugs and meets USP 800 guidelines (per ASTM D6978), carries a high AQL 0.65 for very few pinholes, and has more than double the industry-standard tensile strength. It is powder-free, not made with latex, silicone-free, and even FDA food-contact compliant.

As nitrile lab gloves go, few disposables match this spec sheet: they are chemo rated nitrile gloves tested against 50+ chemicals, and the kimtech polaris gloves line is one of the only laboratory nitrile gloves you can recycle through a manufacturer take-back program.

Key features

• 5.9 mil nitrile exam glove; ambidextrous; textured fingertips
• Tested for fentanyl and 24 chemotherapy drugs; meets USP 800 (ASTM D6978)
• AQL 0.65 — beats the ASTM 2.5 standard for critical defects/pinholes
• More than double the industry-standard tensile strength (31 MPa after aging)
• FDA food-contact compliant (21 CFR 177.2600)
• Powder-free, not made with latex, silicone-free
• Recyclable via Kimberly-Clark RightCycle; sizes XS–L; 9.5" or 12" length

Pros & cons

Specifications

What these gloves are for

Laboratory, clinical, pharmacy-compounding, and chemotherapy-handling work where chemical breakthrough resistance and a low pinhole rate matter — plus any task needing a strong, food-contact-compliant exam glove. They are ranked in our nitrile exam gloves guide and our chemical-resistant nitrile gloves guide, and because they are not made with accelerators-heavy formulations for sensitive users, see also our accelerator-free nitrile gloves guide. The material background is in our nitrile gloves complete guide and nitrile vs latex gloves.

Compatibility

Polaris is tested against 50+ chemicals, but breakthrough time varies by chemical — always follow your workplace's guidance for duration of use, and for prolonged immersion move to a dedicated chemical-resistant glove. The powder-free, latex-free build is covered in our powdered vs. powder-free nitrile gloves guide.

How Polaris compares

Within Kimtech, Polaris is the high-protection tier: the Sterling is a lighter everyday exam glove, the Purple Nitrile is the classic lab standby, and the Vista is a value exam option. For a blue exam alternative, compare the Inspire Cobalt Blue. Browse the full nitrile gloves collection and the wider hand protection range organized by grade, thickness, and use.

Safety note: nitrile is not made with latex, so Polaris suits workers with a latex allergy — but chemical breakthrough time depends on the specific chemical and exposure, so treat the chemo and fentanyl testing as a benchmark, not a guarantee. Follow your facility's USP 800 and PPE protocols, change gloves on the schedule your program sets, and double-glove where your protocol requires it.

Ordering FAQ

Is Kimtech Polaris available and ready to ship?

Availability changes — open the linked listing for live price, size and length options, and delivery speed before you order.

Are these chemo- and fentanyl-rated?

Yes — Kimtech tests Polaris for use with fentanyl and 24 chemotherapy drugs and states it meets USP 800 guidelines for non-sterile compounding, per ASTM D6978 — see more in our chemical-resistant nitrile gloves guide. Always follow your workplace guidelines for how long a glove may be worn with a given chemical.

How thick are they?

5.9 mil — a substantial exam-glove weight that reviewers describe as thick and durable, with enough feel for detailed lab and clinical work.

What is AQL 0.65 and why does it matter?

AQL is the acceptable pinhole/defect rate; a lower number means fewer flaws. At AQL 0.65 Polaris beats the ASTM 2.5 standard for critical defects, which matters when the glove is your barrier against chemicals or pathogens.

Are they food-safe?

Yes — Polaris meets FDA food-contact requirements under 21 CFR 177.2600, so it is cleared for food handling in addition to lab and clinical use; see our nitrile gloves for food service guide.

Are they powder-free and latex-free?

Yes — powder-free, not made with natural rubber latex, and silicone-free, which helps in process-controlled and cleanroom-adjacent environments.

What lengths and sizes are available?

A 9.5-inch Regular and a 12-inch Xtra length, in sizes XS through L — see the wider hand protection range for other options. The 12-inch length gives more wrist and forearm coverage for messy or splash-prone tasks.

Do they grip well when wet?

Yes — textured fingertips improve wet and dry grip, and Kimtech reports Polaris outperformed several competitors for grip in a 2023 global preference study.

Can they be recycled?

Yes — 100% of non-hazardous Polaris gloves can be diverted from landfill through Kimberly-Clark's RightCycle program, which is unusual for a disposable glove.

Are they sterile?

No — these are non-sterile exam gloves, ranked among our best nitrile exam gloves. For sterile procedures, choose a glove specifically labeled sterile.

Can I reuse them?

They are designed as single-use exam gloves from the nitrile gloves range. Some users reuse them for light home tasks, but for lab, clinical, or chemical work follow single-use protocol and change them per your facility's guidance.

How do I reorder for a lab or clinic?

Reorder from this page — the listing and its linked item stay constant, so restocking a lab or clinic with the same glove takes seconds.

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