Global lighting company Signify has unveiled its research that validates its UV-C light sources ability to inactivate COVID-19, on Tuesday.
The company and the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) at Boston University in the US have been conducting research to develop tools in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, Signify said.
They have treated inoculated material with different doses of UV-C radiation coming from a Signify light source and assessed the inactivation capacity under various conditions.
The team applied a dose of 5mJ/cm2, resulting in a reduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus of 99 percent in 6 seconds. Based on the data, it was determined that a dose of 22mJ/cm2 will result in a reduction of 99.9999 percent in 25 seconds.
“Our test results show that above a specific dose of UV-C radiation, viruses were completely inactivated: In a matter of seconds we could no longer detect any virus,” Dr. Anthony Griffiths, associate professor of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine, who led the research, said in a statement.
UV-C has the shortest wavelength among ultraviolet ray is known to kill viruses and bacteria. It is harmful to the skin and eyes, however, and is attached within devices most of the time.
“I’m very happy about the fruitful cooperation with Boston University in the fight against the coronavirus. Boston University has validated the effectiveness of our light sources as a preventive measure for companies and institutions as they seek ways to provide virus-free environments,” said Eric Rondolat, CEO of Signify, in a statement.
