Should surgical gloves be sterile

Sometimes. Anyone touching the patient or anything else that will touch the patient (instruments, drapes, etc.) or touch the surgical table or equipment in the sterile surgical field, must be sterile, including the gloves. However, all types of surgical gloves are not sterile, but those used in surgery must be. Other procedures (outside of surgery) are considered "clean" but not "sterile", in those cases, non-sterile gloves can be used.