Porosity Prevention in Prophylactic Membranes

Latex rubber articles in the form of condoms and gloves are used as barriers against the transmission of infectious diseases. The medical community have identified the use of condoms as an effective means for preventing the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases. Universal precaution procedures for health care workers requires wearing, and changing, latex examination gloves. Formed rubber latex items frequently reduce but do not eliminate completely the possibility of transmission of viruses such as HIV. This proposal suggests a method for coating latex articles with a thin, biologically bland, non-porous polymer to eliminate the possibility of virus transport via micropores in the latex membrane.