X-ray inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 for diagnostic testing workflows in pandemic response

Abstract In response to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study introduces a novel application of X-ray irradiation to rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 variants, enabling safe and efficient virus handling outside high-containment facilities. Unlike traditional methods, X-ray irradiation preserves both the structural and genomic integrity of the virus, allowing for accurate detection through molecular and antigen-based diagnostics. These findings demonstrate that X-ray irradiation provides a practical, non-radioisotopic method for generating inactivated SARS-CoV-2 reference material while retaining sufficient genomic and antigenic integrity for molecular and antigen-based diagnostic evaluation. This study was not designed as a direct comparison of X-ray and gamma irradiation under matched experimental conditions. Rather, it demonstrates the public health utility of an electrically generated X-ray platform that can be switched off when not in use, operated with sealed biosafety packaging and used to generate variant-specific reference material during an active pandemic response. The ability to produce and distribute non-infectious material suitable for sequencing, RT-qPCR, ELISA and lateral-flow testing could help expand diagnostic development and validation beyond specialist high-containment laboratories.