Contains natural rubber latex (LATEX)
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“Indicates the presence of dry natural rubber or natural rubber latex as a material of construction within the medical device or the packaging of a medical device.”
ISO 15223-1:2021, 5.4.5
What it means for you
Natural rubber latex is part of the device or of its packaging. People with a latex allergy should look for this mark. SafeSource’s glossary shows the opposite, “not made with natural rubber latex”, drawn as the same mark crossed out using the standard’s negation rule (Annex B).
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- A rounded triangle pointing down with the word LATEX across the top.
- Where you see it
- Gloves, catheters, some tourniquets, elastic bandages and dressings with rubber adhesives.
- Other names
- latex; contains latex; presence of natural rubber latex
What it does not tell you
It does not say how much latex there is or which part contains it, and it does not say whether you will react to it.
More symbols in “A triangle”
Sources
ISO 15223-1 is a paid standard, so the wording above is quoted as 3 publishers’ public documents reproduce it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- Boston Scientific: Symbols Glossary — ISO 15223-1 5.4.5 “Contains or presence of natural rubber latex — Indicates the presence of dry natural rubber or natural rubber latex as a material of construction within the medical device or the packaging of a medical device.” Checked 2026-09-25.
- NE Scientific: Master Symbol Glossary (CTF-100011 Rev 01) — Shows the rounded, point-down triangle with LATEX for reference no. 5.4.5, with the same explanatory text. Checked 2026-09-25.
- SafeSource Direct: Medical Device Symbols Glossary — Lists “Not Made with or Absence of Natural Rubber Latex — Indicates the absence of dry natural rubber or natural rubber latex …”, reference #5.4.5 with “Annex B for negation symbol”. Checked 2026-09-25.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.