BOSTON - On February 8th 2001, Global Protection Corp. announced that its Night Light glow-in-the-dark condom had been the first of its kind approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"The FDA doesn't actually approve condoms the way they approve drugs," explained Steve Mare, Global Protection Corp.'s vice president of marketing. "They provide a pre-market allowance. Once you prove that your condom is effective in the prevention of disease and pregnancy, the FDA will allow you to label it as such. Condoms are either novelty or high-quality, so now we're putting a seal on our condom that says 'World's Only High-Quality Glow in the dark Condom."

The Glowing condoms are made with a patented process, in which glass molds are dipped once into regular latex, then a second time into latex enhanced with a glow pigment, and a third time in regular latex again. When held to a light for 30 seconds, they will glow for roughly 15 minutes.

"Even though the glow pigment is non-toxic," Mare continued, "we provided the FDA a level of comfort with that third layer. Their approval means that we'll be expanding greatly the types of places that you'll find glow condoms, because although we're found in adult stores and novelty shops, grocery and convenience stores generally won't carry condoms unless they're high-quality. Now they can carry Night Light condoms along with Durex, Trojan and everybody else."

Global Protection Corp., a privately owned Boston-based company, was founded in 1987. They started out customizing condom packages for companies, then added novelty condom lollipops and key chains to their repertoire. They also manufacture Atlas and Pleasure Plus brand prophylactics.

To help promote their new glowing condom achievement, they sponsored a Web-based contest to give 10 people a year's supply of Night Light glow in the dark condoms. The first five winners were drawn on April 1st, and the next five on August 1st.

"We would like to give the phrase 'rise and shine' a whole new meaning," said company founder Davin Wedel.