UV-C light technology can add an extra layer of protection to your environmental cleaning and infection prevention program. Using a germicidal wavelength of ultraviolet light, UV-C technology inactivates microorganisms rather than physically removing them from a surface.
However, UV-C shouldn’t replace traditional cleaning and disinfection methods. Its effectiveness depends on selecting the right technology, integrating it into existing workflows, training staff, and validating that equipment delivers the appropriate dose.
This guide takes a deep dive into what healthcare leaders must know about UV-C in hospitals, including best practices, available technology, portable equipment applications, common misconceptions, and UV-C testing and validation.
What Is UV-C Light Technology, and How Does It Work?
UV-C light technology uses a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light to inactivate microorganisms by damaging their DNA and RNA, which stops them from reproducing. It’s an effective technology hospitals can add to their existing infection prevention strategy to better protect patients.
UV-C hospital disinfection provides an additional layer of sanitization, not a standalone cleaning method. Traditional environmental cleaning removes soil and organic material from surfaces, while UV-C inactivates microbes after cleaning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning before disinfection because organic and inorganic materials can interfere with the effectiveness of subsequent disinfection processes.
Hospitals considering UV-C should know where to use it, how it will fit into their EVS workflow, how to train employees, and how to verify it delivered the intended UV-C dose.
Making UV-C Technology Cost-Effective
UV-C technology can be a significant investment, but hospitals can boost its value by choosing technology that fits their workflows, training requirements, and highest-priority use cases.
Invest in Training
Hospitals should look for UV-C solutions that are easy to operate and can be naturally incorporated into existing EVS processes. This is especially important in healthcare settings with ongoing employee turnover. A complicated process can increase training demands and make adoption more difficult.
UVconcepts designed its portable-equipment solution around a simple workflow that minimizes training time. The company's approach grew out of the recognition that technology can sit untouched when employees aren't confident using it or when it doesn't fit seamlessly into their daily responsibilities.
Choose the Right Equipment
Not every UV-C machine is designed for the same application. Hospitals should consider the space or equipment being treated, the area size, cycle time, ease of use, maintenance requirements, and how the technology supports existing workflows.
BrightBot founder Robert Thomann saw this firsthand while working as an emergency room physician assistant during the pandemic. His experience inspired him to create a UV-C product built for simplicity, affordability, and ease of maintenance. On HHS' The Outsource Advantage podcast, Thomann also discussed how customer feedback and collaboration have influenced BrightBot's product development.
Target Areas for UV-C Use
Hospitals don't need to deploy UV-C everywhere. The technology is most valuable when strategically targeted to areas with higher transmission risk or where an extra layer of assurance matters. Some of the best places for UV-C usage are:
- Isolation Discharges: UV-C can be added after cleaning in rooms used for patients under isolation precautions.
- Operating Rooms: UV-C can be used during terminal cleaning for enhanced disinfection.
- Critical Care: ICUs, NICUs, and other areas caring for vulnerable patients may be appropriate candidates.
The right application depends on each facility's patient population, workflow, room turnover, infection prevention priorities, and available resources.
A Closer Look at UVconcepts' Technology Suite
UVconcepts’ Technology Suite is a UV-C disinfection system that adds tracking and accountability to every cleaning cycle.
Portable medical equipment can be an overlooked transmission vector because items such as wheelchairs, equipment carts, and other shared devices move between patients and areas of a facility. HHS' partnership with UVconcepts prioritizes using UV-C technology to overcome this challenge.
The suite combines four components:
UVenclosure
The UVenclosure is the physical unit where the inactivation process takes place. The approximately 4-foot-by-7-foot-by-5-foot enclosure is lined with UV-C lamps designed to expose portable equipment to UV-C light.
UVbadge
The UVbadge is assigned to trained users. Operators use the badge to access and operate the enclosure, creating accountability for equipment use.
UVetag
The UVetag is attached to portable equipment and allows the system to track successful UV-C cycles.
UVdatacloud
The UVdatacloud is the cloud-based platform that manages and analyzes information generated by the other components.
An employee uses their UVbadge to open the enclosure, places the portable equipment inside, and starts the cycle. Once the cycle is complete, the equipment can be removed and returned to service. The system records the successful cycle using the UVetag and the operator's badge.
Benefits of the Technology Suite
When used properly, the system can achieve more than 99.9999% inactivation of microorganisms in 60 seconds, be tailored to individual facility workflows, and requires short training, so employees can hit the ground running.
UVconcepts’ ongoing support program, UVcare, provides replacement lamps, preventative maintenance, parts and labor, and software updates.
HHS' partnership with UVconcepts underpins that the most useful technology can be incorporated into an existing workflow and used consistently.
On our The Outsource Advantage podcast, UVconcepts CEO Tony Gorski discussed the importance of workflow design when implementing UV-C and the role of clinical research in evaluating these technologies. He also explained how the company is applying its approach beyond healthcare.
Common Misconceptions About UV-C in Healthcare
Does UV-C technology replace traditional cleaning?
No. UV-C should supplement, not replace, traditional cleaning and disinfection. UV-C works through microbial inactivation. It does not remove dirt, organic material, or other debris from a surface.
Hospitals should continue following established cleaning and disinfection protocols before using UV-C technology.
Does UV-C eliminate the need for additional labor?
No. UV-C still requires employees to set up, operate, and validate the equipment.
However, hospitals can build UV-C into existing workflows to minimize disruption. For example, an EVS employee can start a UV-C cycle after cleaning one room and then move on to another task while the machine operates.
Can ATP testing validate UV-C disinfection?
No. ATP testing and UV-C validation measure different things.
ATP testing measures organic material remaining on a surface. It can help evaluate traditional cleaning effectiveness, but it does not determine whether a UV-C machine delivered the appropriate dose.
UV-C inactivates microorganisms rather than removing them from a surface. Therefore, an ATP test could indicate that a surface was sufficiently cleaned while providing no confirmation that the UV-C cycle delivered an adequate dose.
UV-C Testing and Validation: Why and How
UV-C testing validates whether a device delivered the appropriate dose to the targeted areas. Because UV-C exposure occurs at the molecular level and cannot be seen with the naked eye, testing provides an objective way to determine whether the equipment is operating as intended. Several variables affect UV-C dose, including:
- Room dimensions
- Physical layout
- Distance from the UV-C source
- UV-C wavelength
- Light intensity
- Shading or obstacles
- Machine run time
Because these factors can vary from room to room, running a UV-C machine for a predetermined amount of time does not always confirm that every targeted area received the appropriate exposure.
What Is a UV-C Dosimeter?
A UV-C dosimeter is a tool used to validate UV-C exposure. Dosimeter cards change color over time based on exposure to a specific UV-C wavelength, giving EVS and infection prevention teams a clear indication of whether targeted areas received an adequate UV-C dose.
How to Use a UV-C Dosimeter Card
A basic validation process includes four steps:
- Place dosimeter cards in the targeted areas.
- Run a complete UV-C cycle.
- Review the dosimeter cards.
- Adjust and repeat if necessary.
Validation should not be treated as a one-time exercise. Hospitals should establish processes that help ensure employees continue using UV-C equipment correctly, particularly as staff changes and workflows evolve.
Training and validation work together. Employees need to understand not only how to operate the machine, but also why positioning, room conditions, cycle time, and proper procedures matter.
Partnering With HHS on UV-C Disinfection
UV-C technology is a valuable addition to a hospital's infection prevention strategy, but technology alone does not create better outcomes. Successful implementation requires the right equipment, appropriate applications, employee training, workflow integration, and ongoing validation. Healthcare facilities must also understand what UV-C can and cannot do.
HHS works with healthcare systems to build environmental services programs around each facility's specific needs, including thoughtfully integrating emerging UV-C technologies. Through our strategic partnerships with BrightBot and UVconcepts, we continue to explore how technology can complement EVS teams' work and strengthen infection prevention.
If your hospital is evaluating UV-C or other infection-prevention approaches, a customized EVS strategy can determine where technology can deliver the greatest operational and patient-safety value.
FAQs
Does UV-C technology replace manual cleaning?
No. UV-C is an additional layer of protection and should be used after appropriate cleaning and disinfection. UV-C does not remove soil or organic material, and unclean surfaces can reduce its effectiveness.
Can ATP testing validate UV-C disinfection?
No. ATP testing measures organic material remaining on a surface, while UV-C validation determines whether the appropriate UV-C dose was delivered. The two technologies serve different purposes.
How much does UV-C technology cost for a hospital?
Costs vary significantly by technology and application. Hospitals should consider not only the purchase price but also training, maintenance, labor, cycle time, and how effectively the equipment fits into existing workflows.
BrightBot's affordability is a key differentiator, while UVconcepts customizes its solutions to a facility's unique needs and budget.
How is a UV-C dose measured and validated?
A UV-C dosimeter can validate exposure. Place cards throughout the targeted area, run a cycle, then compare the cards to their color scale. If exposure is inadequate, staff can reposition or adjust the machine and repeat the process.
Where should hospitals use UV-C technology?
Hospitals should prioritize areas where an additional layer of disinfection provides the most value. Potential applications include isolation discharges, operating rooms, critical care areas, and shared portable equipment. The appropriate use cases will vary based on the facility's workflow and infection prevention priorities.