When taking wastewater samples, wear ___ gloves, and practice good ____ by washing your hands after handling samples.

• A. Latex - hygiene
• B. Nitrile - hygiene
• C. Latex - sanitation
• D. Nitrile - sanitation

Answer: (A)

Wearing a barrier between your skin and the wastewater sample is essential for safety, and the gloves you choose should let you handle containers precisely. Latex gloves provide a snug fit and good tactile sensitivity, which helps you grip and manipulate small sample bottles without fumbling. After you finish handling samples, washing your hands removes any residual contaminants and prevents cross-contamination to yourself, others, or other work areas. This combination—gloves for protection and hygiene through handwashing—keeps both you and the sampling process safer. If latex allergy is a concern, nitrile would be used instead, but the link between glove use and hand hygiene remains the same.