Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
Published on: June 21, 2022
Decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated N95 filtering facepiece respirators using artificial sun lamps
D C Glasbrenner1, Y W Choi1, A W Richardson1
1Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, USA.
Aims:
Assess the feasibility of using light from artificial sun lamps to decontaminate N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) contaminated with SARS-CoV-2.
Methods And Results:
FFR coupons or whole FFRs contaminated with 5 log10 TCID50 (target concentration) SARS-CoV-2 in culture media, simulated saliva, or simulated lung fluid were dried for 1-2 h, then exposed to light from tanning and horticulture lamps to assess decontamination. Exposed coupons and whole FFRs showed SARS-CoV-2 inactivation for all matrices tested. Furthermore, FFRs still met performance specifications after five decontamination cycles.
Conclusions:
It is feasible that artificial sunlight from these sun lamps can be used to decontaminate FFRs provided the UV dose is sufficient and the light is unobstructed. Furthermore, decontamination can be performed up to five times without degrading FFR performance.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
This research shows a proof of principle that artificial sun lamps may be an option to decontaminate SARS-CoV-2 on N95 FFRs. UV doses required for inactivation to levels below detection ranged from 4 to 37·8 J cm-2 depending on the light source, virus matrix and FFR type.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
01:10PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...