Detection of defects in protective barriers

A method for detecting defects in a barrier formed from a barrier material, comprising

• applying a voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode and across said barrier;
• subjecting said barrier to an ionized gas, introduced from a gas inlet;
• drawing the ionized gas through the barrier using a source for creating a pressure differential across the barrier;
• measuring the voltage across the barrier when the ionized gas is drawn through the barrier;
• and
• comparing the voltage across the barrier to a voltage measured across a defect free barrier formed of the barrier material.

An enclosure apparatus for testing surgical gloves, comprising:

• at least one chamber;
• an inlet for introducing a surgical glove;
• a gas inlet for passing gas through a surgical glove;
• a screen for constraining the glove;
• a vacuum source for drawing gas through a surgical glove;
• an ionizing source;
• and
• a detector for monitoring voltage across a surgical glove within the screen.