Pulsed Broad-Spectrum UV Light Effectively Inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on Multiple Surfaces and N95 Material

  1. Alexander S. Jureka
  2. Caroline G. Williams
  3. Christopher F. Basler

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Abstract

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in an increased need for technologies capable of efficiently disinfecting public spaces as well as personal protective equipment. UV light disinfection is a well-established method for inactivating respiratory viruses. Here, we have determined that broad-spectrum, pulsed UV light is effective at inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on multiple surfaces in vitro. For hard, non-porous surfaces, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 was inactivated to undetectable levels on plastic and glass with a UV dose of 34.9 mJ/cm2 and stainless steel with a dose of 52.5 mJ/cm2. We also observed that broad-spectrum, pulsed UV light is effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 on N95 respirator material to undetectable levels with a dose of 103 mJ/cm2. We included UV dosimeter cards that provide a colorimetric readout of UV dose and demonstrated their utility as a means to confirm desired levels of exposure were reached. Together, the results presented here demonstrate that broad-spectrum, pulsed UV light is an effective technology for the in vitro inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on multiple surfaces.

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  1. Version published to 10.3390/v13030460
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.02.12.431032: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Cell Line Authenticationnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Experimental Models: Cell Lines
    SentencesResources
    Cells and virus: Vero E6 cells (ATCC# CRL-1586) were maintained in DMEM supplemented with heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS; Gibco).
    Vero E6
    suggested: None
    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    For the purposes of graphical depiction, UV dosimeter card color post-UV exposure was replicated using the eyedropper tool in Adobe Illustrator.
    Adobe Illustrator
    suggested: (Adobe Illustrator, RRID:SCR_010279)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    While our data demonstrate that broad-spectrum pulsed UV light is an effective method for inactivating SARS-CoV-2, one notable limitation of our study is that surfaces were only exposed to the UV light at a distance of one meter. However, our data demonstrated that colorimetric UV dosimeter cards work as expected and provide a clear indication of the dosage being applied to a particular surface where the card is in place. In the event that a surface is more than one meter from a given UV device, using our data as a reference the inverse square law could be applied to determine the amount of time required to achieve a particular dosage at the necessary distance [45-47]. In addition, utilizing UV dosimeter cards like those tested here would provide a rapid, low-cost method for testing broad-spectrum pulsed UV light devices at different distances to ensure that an effective dosage is delivered. The data presented here demonstrate that broad-spectrum UV light is an effective means of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on multiple surfaces, including N95 respirator material. Additionally, UV dosimeter cards like those tested here represent an effective and straightforward means for point-of-care users of UV disinfection equipment to ensure that surfaces have been properly disinfected.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No funding statement was detected.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  3. Version published to 10.1101/2021.02.12.431032v1 on bioRxiv