The Science Behind Lucentᵘᵛ

Lucentᵘᵛ draws on a century of ultraviolet science to deliver the world's most powerful UV disinfection lights.


What is UV?

Ultraviolet (UV) light exists on the electromagnetic wavelength spectrum between X ray and visible light. Though invisible to the human eye, UV light and its three flavors of UV irradiation (UVA, UVB and UVC) have been used for disinfection since the mid-20th century, and even earlier with sunlight being investigated for bactericidal effects in the mid-19th century.

Think back to last summer's sunburn-- that is UVA and UVB light. However, UVC, with the shortest wavelength, is the most powerful and the only one that produces the proven amount of energy necessary to effectively kill microorganisms.

Why use UVC to disinfect?
UVC light has a wavelength between 200-280 nanometers (nm) making it germicidal, meaning it is strong enough to destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens by preventing the organism from replicating and continuing any further cellular function. A cell that can’t reproduce is considered dead; since it is unable to multiply to infectious numbers within a host. This is why UV disinfection is sometimes called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI).

How does UV light eliminate germs?
The intention of UVC inactivation of microorganisms is to use the energy from the short wavelength to damage the nucleic acids in the microorganism. The UVC light is absorbed by the nucleic acids of a microorganism at a lethal germicidal wavelength range of 250-270 nm, causing severe damage to the DNA and RNA of a microorganism. This results in the 'dimerization' or double bonding of molecules. In particular, dimerization of thymine molecules are incurred by UVC light. As a result of the light damage to the DNA, it becomes difficult for the nucleic acids of the microorganism to replicate and infect, thus making them no longer viable.

Examples of microorganisms UVC light can inactivate:

  • Coronavirus
  • Influenza
  • Ebola
  • Anthrax
  • MRSA
  • C. Diff
  • Hepatitis A
  • Poliovirus
  • E. Coli
  • Tuberculosis
  • K. Pneumoniae

Benefits of UVC Over Other Disinfection Methods



Tested and Trusted by Third Party Research

Effectiveness of targeted enhanced terminal room disinfection on hospital-wide acquisition and infection with multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile: a secondary analysis of a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial with crossover design.
[Download from The Lancet]
Duke University School of Medicine
Duke study finds UV light can aid hospitals' fight to wipe out drug-resistant superbugs
Comparative evaluation of operating room terminal cleaning by two methods: Focused multivector ultraviolet (FMUV) versus manual-chemical disinfection
[Download from American Journal of Infection Control]
American Journal of Infection Control
Ultraviolet disinfection reduced the active microbial burden by 96.5%, which was over 2.5 times better than the standard process.
Ambulance Disinfection using UIltraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

 

[Download from CDC]
HHS and CDC
UVGI has been shown to effectively inactivate a wide range of human pathogens including coronaviruses and other human respiratory viruses. UVGI technology is well adapted for use inside ambulances where contamination of viruses and bacteria may be rampant.
Nebraska Biocontainment Unit patient discharge and environmental decontamination after Ebola care
[Download from American Journal of Infection Control]
University of Nebraska Medical Center
UVC successfully used to combat the Ebola virus at the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit
Learn more:

Lucentᵘᵛ offers four styles of UVGI Disinfectant lights: