Virucidal efficacy of a portable pulsed UV light device: experimental study at Chubu and Tohoku Universities

Background: In emergency medical settings, healthcare professionals are frequently exposed to unknown viruses and bacteria. To reduce environmental contamination, portable pulsed ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection devices are increasingly used. However, their virucidal efficacy has not been fully clarified. Methods: This experimental study evaluated the efficacy of a portable pulsed UV device against five viruses: feline calicivirus (FCV, F4 strain), influenza A virus (IAV, A/NWS/33 strain), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2, UW 268 strain), poliovirus type 3 (PV-3, Sabin strain), and SARS-CoV-2. Viruses were irradiated for 1, 5, or 10 s at distances of 1, 5, or 10 cm. Experiments with FCV, IAV, HSV-2, and PV-3 were conducted at Chubu University under BSL-2 conditions. SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed at Tohoku University under BSL-3. Results: The device demonstrated significant virucidal activity, particularly at a distance of ≤5 cm and exposures of ≥5 s. Both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses were effectively inactivated. Conclusion: This study shows that a portable pulsed UV device can rapidly inactivate diverse clinically relevant viruses, supporting its role in environmental decontamination in emergency care. Key policy highlights: A portable pulsed UV disinfection light device demonstrated virucidal efficacy against multiple viruses. The device exhibited optimal virucidal activity at irradiation distances of ≤5 cm and irradiation durations of ≥5 s. The pulsed UV irradiation device was effective against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.