News: LEDs
17 June 2020
Boston University validates effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources in inactivating SARS-CoV-2
Signify of Eindhoven, The Netherlands, together with the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL, which encompasses containment laboratories at Biosafety Level -2, -3, and -4) at Boston University in the USA, have conducted research that validates the effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
Since the start of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, the team of Dr Anthony Griffiths, associate professor of Microbiology at Boston University’s School of Medicine, has been working on developing tools to support scientific advancement in this field (Griffiths’ team develops vaccines and therapeutics for Risk Group 3 and 4 viruses, which include organisms that can cause serious or deadly diseases in humans). During their research they have treated inoculated material with different doses of UV-C radiation 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 in SARS-CoV-2 virus of 99% in 6 seconds. Based on the data, it was determined that a dose of 22mJ/cm2 will result in a reduction of 99.9999% 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,” says Griffiths. “We hope that this will accelerate the development of products that can help limit the spread of COVID-19.”
“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,” says Signify’s Eric Rondolat. “Given the potential of the technology to aid the fight against the coronavirus, Signify will not keep the technology for its exclusive use but make it available to other lighting companies,” he adds. “To service the growing need for disinfection we will increase our production capacity multifold in the coming months.”
