Of course every method of sterilization has its pros and cons. For sterilizing an 8-foot biosafety cabinet in a lab, a common recommendation is 30 min. 1 For sterilizing surgical instruments in a medium UV box, it might take 5-10 min. coli, it will only take 1-2 min to show a complete sterilization. For example, if you use a UV lamp held within 1 inch above a petri dish grown with E. Since UV sterilization uses the energy of UVC to destroy biomolecules, its effectiveness depends on the total energy applied which is affected by the length of exposure time and the distance from the light source.

How much time does it take to get this nasty stuff to said “dead” status? Let’s talk destruction specifics. When a microorganism is unable to multiply, it is considered dead since it cannot reproduce within a host and is no longer infectious.

How does UV sterilize something? I’m glad you asked! UV sterilization also known as UV disinfection or ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) works by breaking down certain chemical bonds and scrambling the structure of DNA, RNA and proteins, causing a microorganism to be unable to multiply. Because microorganisms come with different sizes and shapes that affect their UV absorption, the required time for killing each species varies. Studies have shown that UVC at 254 nm is effective against all foodborne pathogens, natural microbiota, molds, and yeasts. Is UV sterilization effective for viruses and bacteria? The short answer is yes, and even more organisms. When you are shopping for a UV sterilization product to try in your home or business, make sure that its UV wavelength falls in the range of UVC (100-280 nm). For UV sterilization, only UVC (100-280nm) has high enough energy to effectively kill microorganisms. UV is divided into three types with reducing wavelengths and increasing energy. What does that mean? To get a little technical, ultraviolet (UV) means “beyond violet” and refers to a range of electromagnetic waves with a shorter wavelength (higher frequency and energy) than the visible violet light. When it comes to UV sterilization, not all kinds of UV are effective. You can find it being used to disinfect: water, air, fruits, vegetables, surgical utensils, tablet computers, toys and a variety of surfaces.

UV LED vs traditional UV bulbs) has broadened the field for where it can be used. With advancements in technology, and specifically in the UV bulbs themselves, its reliable long lifespan (thousands-of-hours) and smaller size (e.g. UV light has been used for sterilization and disinfection as early as the mid-20th century. With more and more UV sterilization products coming on the market, you might be wondering if they are worth trying. How effective is UV sterilization? Does it work for bacteria and viruses? What are the pros and cons? These are questions I hear a lot working in the microbiology field, especially when people think about how dirty their cell phone gets.

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