Disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces of personal items with UVC-LED disinfection boxes

Bormann, M.; Alt, M.; Schipper, L.; van de Sand, L.; Otte, M.; Meister, T. L.; Dittmer, U.; Witzke, O.; Steinmann, E.; Krawczyk, A.

doi:10.1101/2021.03.03.433725

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.03.03.433725

Disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces of personal items with UVC-LED disinfection boxes

Bormann, M.·Alt, M.·Schipper, L.·van de Sand, L.·Otte, M.·Meister, T. L.·Dittmer, U.·Witzke, O.·Steinmann, E.·Krawczyk, A.

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Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted from person-to-person by close contact, small aerosol respiratory droplets and potentially via contact with contaminated surfaces. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of commercial UVC-LED disinfection boxes in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces of personal items. We contaminated glass, metal and plastic samples representing the surfaces of personal items such as smartphones, coins or credit cards with SARS-CoV-2 formulated in an organic matrix mimicking human respiratory secretions. For disinfection, the samples were placed at different distances from UVC emitting LEDs inside commercial UVC-LED disinfection boxes and irradiated for different time periods (up to 10 minutes). High viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 were effectively inactivated on all surfaces after 3 minutes of irradiation. Even 10 seconds of UVC-exposure strongly reduced viral loads. Thus, UVC-LED boxes proved to be an effective method for disinfecting SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces that are typically found on personal items.

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Bormann, M., Alt, M., Schipper, L., van de Sand, L., Otte, M., Meister, T. L., Dittmer, U., Witzke, O., Steinmann, E., Krawczyk, A.. 2021-03-04. Disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces of personal items with UVC-LED disinfection boxes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.03.433725

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