Susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to UV irradiation

Am J Infect Control. 2020 Oct;48(10):1273-1275. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.031. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Abstract

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic became a global health burden. We determined the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to irradiation with ultraviolet light. The virus was highly susceptible to ultraviolet light. A viral stock with a high infectious titer of 5 × 106 TCID50/mL was completely inactivated by UVC irradiation after nine minutes of exposure. The UVC dose required for complete inactivation was 1,048 mJ/cm2. UVA exposure demonstrated only a weak effect on virus inactivation over 15 minutes. Hence, inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by UVC irradiation constitutes a reliable method for disinfection purposes in health care facilities and for preparing SARS-CoV-2 material for research purpose.

Keywords: COVID-19; Inactivation; Ultraviolet light.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / radiation effects*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Disinfection / methods
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Virus Inactivation / radiation effects*