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Home R&D UV dose response research completed on COVID-19 sample from cruise ship

UV dose response research completed on COVID-19 sample from cruise ship

Societal benefit of UV-C LED against Covid

AquiSense Technologies, the world leader in ultraviolet (UV) LED disinfection systems, is pleased to share the latest research conducted on SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19) with UV-C LED technology.

UV-C LED lamps were used to prove disinfection of COVID-19 by independent researchers at the University of Miyazaki, Japan. This study provides data on the disinfection possibilities of UV to aid the fight against COVID-19.

The research was conducted on SARS-CoV-2 isolated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which saw numerous cases early in the pandemic. Researchers exposed the virus to radiation from Nikkiso UV-C LEDs (280 nm peak) to determine a UV Dose response curve.

“This work certainly bolsters the case for the use of UV-C LEDs for societal benefit against SARS-CoV-2. Considering the large number of research projects underway exploring the efficacy of UV-C on the virus, we can expect the supporting body of evidence to only increase,” said Jennifer Pagan, Ph.D. and CTO of AquiSense Technologies.

Demonstrating UV Dose response

The study used an infectivity assay on Vero cells to measure inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under UV-C LED irradiation. By varying exposure time for each sample the researchers were able to generate a series of datapoints known as a ‘dose response curve’; data such as these are used throughout the UV industry, allowing system designers to match a target UV exposure to a desired degree of inactivation. This study is the first demonstration of a UV Dose response curve for SARS-CoV-2.

Analysis of these data gives a D90 value (the UV Dose required to achieve a 90% reduction) in the 4.2 – 5.3 mJ cm-2 range, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 may be more susceptible to UV exposure than other common viruses such as norovirus.

However, a low starting concentration of the virus limited the maximum inactivation that could be measured to 3.3-log (99.95%) and may have resulted in an effect known as ‘tailing’. Both features limit conclusions which can be drawn from the data.

Rich Simons, Ph.D, Head of Application Science at AquiSense Technologies, added: “The more we learn about the way this virus behaves the better we can design systems to combat it effectively. This study is certainly not the end of discussion on UV as a tool for SARS-CoV-2 inactivation but adds a useful datapoint to our ongoing analysis and gives us confidence that we’re on the right track.”

To learn more about UV-C LED technology, please contact AquiSense at: info@aquisense.com