Signify and Boston University validate effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources on inactivating the virus that causes COVID-19

June 16, 2020

• Test results show that the virus could no longer be detected after seconds of exposure
• Signify to make its UV-C lighting technology widely available to other lighting companies
• Signify has been at the forefront of UV technology for more than 35 years

Somerset, New Jersey – Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, together with the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL)¹ at Boston University has conducted research that validates the effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Since the start of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Griffiths, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Boston University’s School of Medicine, and his team have been working on developing tools to support scientific advancement in this field.² In their research, they treated inoculated material with different doses of UV-C radiation coming from a Signify light source and assessed the inactivation capacity under various conditions. The team applied a dose of 5mJ/cm², resulting in a 99% reduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in six seconds. Based on the data, it was determined that a dose of 22mJ/cm^² will result in reduction of 99.9999% in 25 seconds.³

“Our test results show that above a specific dose of UV-C radiation, viruses were completely inactivated. In a matter of seconds, we could no longer detect any virus,” said Dr. Anthony Griffiths. “We’re very excited about these findings and hope that this will accelerate the development of products that can help limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Signify is the leader in UV-C light sources and has been at the forefront of UV technology for more than 35 years. It has a proven track record of innovation in UV-C lighting, which is designed, manufactured and installed in line with the highest safety standards.

¹ The NEIDL is a state-of-the-art research facility that encompasses significant containment laboratories at Biosafety Level -2, -3, and -4

² Dr. Griffiths’ team develops vaccines and therapeutics for Risk Group 3 and 4 viruses, which include organisms that can cause serious or deadly diseases in humans

³ Research variables are available upon request