(updated February 18, 2020)

All RadTech 2020 and IUVA Americas preparations are proceeding as planned and we look forward to seeing you in Orlando! The traditional number of visitors from China to RadTech and IUVA is very small—so the impact on the event is expected to be minimal.

RadTech and IUVA take the concerns of our members, guests and partners regarding the coronavirus very seriously. In partnership with our hosts at Disney, your safety is always our top priority.

According to the CDC, “for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low at this time. The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus: Effective February 2, 2020, the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.”

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

With these restrictions the risk of contracting Coronavirus/COVID-19 within conferences in the United States is very low. Visitors subject to this U.S. Government action will not be attending RadTech 2020 or the IUVA Americas events.

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mickey Fortune, 240-643-0517, mfortune@iuva.org

Chevy Chase, MD (January 22, 2020) With over 150 attendees, nearly 20 exhibitors and a highly interactive set of presentations, panels, posters and facility tours, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), in partnership with the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), presented a two day workshop in January 2020 on Ultraviolet Disinfection Technologies & Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs): Defining Standards and Metrology Needs. Dr. Walter Copan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director and Dr. Eric Lin, Director, NIST Material Measurement Laboratory, welcomed attendees and opened the event. The workshop examined technology, measurement, and standards needs as a way to promote further innovation in the development and use of ultraviolet technology for the reduction and prevention of HAIs. HAIs are recognized as an important public health and patient safety issue, and UV technology is considered an effective tool to combat HAIs. 
 
“This Workshop was the second in a series designed to encourage collaboration and consensus-building between researchers, infectious disease physicians, UV disinfection companies and regulators, both in the US and internationally,” says Dr. Richard Martinello, Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Yale New Haven Health. “The goal is to develop UV guidance that will help healthcare providers world-wide choose the best possible technologies for their institutions to use in the fight against multiple drug resistant organisms and other pathogens that cause HAIs.”
 
The event built on the efforts of the IUVA Healthcare/UV Task Force, dedicated to the development of efficacy guidelines and standards to help advance the adoption and safe use of UV technologies.  “It was exciting to discuss ways to validate the efficacy of UV technology with the largest group of equipment suppliers to the HAI market gathered in one place,” says Oliver Lawal, IUVA Immediate Past President, and President and CEO of AquiSense Technologies. “The IUVA looks forward to publishing the first outcomes of common guidelines for the use of this critical life-saving technology in healthcare environments.”
 
The IUVA Healthcare/UV Task Force is planning a follow up panel discussion and technical sessions at the 2020 IUVA Americas Conference, March 9-11, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

For more information on the IUVA Task Force, please contact Troy Cowan, troy@visionbasedconsulting.us.

For more information on IUVA and the IUVA Americas Conference, please contact Mickey Fortune, mfortune@iuva.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gary Cohen, +1-240-437-4615, gcohen@iuva.org

Chevy Chase, MD (November 20, 2019) The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), the nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of ultraviolet technologies for industry, public health and the environment, is pleased to welcome Ron Hofmann, Professor at the University of Toronto, as President, serving a two year term. Professor Hofmann assumes the position from Oliver Lawal, President of AquiSense, who is now the Association’s immediate past president. “The IUVA has already demonstrated strong leadership in UV applications in the world of water and wastewater treatment, such as helping to establish universal testing protocols and raising the bar on the level of technical discussion,” says Professor Hofmann. “We are now embarking on an exciting opportunity to apply our expertise to new areas of focus, including the healthcare industry, and food and beverages.”

Jennifer Osgood, Associate, CDM Smith, has been named incoming President of IUVA. “The IUVA continues to achieve our mission of ‘advancing the sciences, engineering & applications of ultraviolet technologies to enhance the quality of life and protect the environment,’” says Ms. Osgood. “Our growing membership, technical and educational outreach, task force initiatives, UV Solutions magazine, conferences and workshops, and young professional interest is helping to drive this success.” The IUVA also elevated two current Board members to new positions in leadership, with the addition of Richard Joshi, Director of Technology and Innovation–UV, atg Evoqua, as the new IUVA Secretary; and Ted Mao, Vice President, Research at Trojan Technologies, as the IUVA co-Vice President of the Americas.

The next IUVA event is the 2020 IUVA Americas Conference and Exhibition, March 8-11 in Orlando, Florida. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.iuva.org/2020-Americas-Conference.

Press Release: Berlin, June 24, 2019

Two years after the first successful ‘International Conference on UV LED Technologies & Applications (ICULTA)’ the next conference will be held from April 26 to 29, 2020 at the MELIÃ Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Once more, it will bring together pioneers, leaders, and experts from science and industry to discuss latest progress and innovations in the development of UV LEDs and their broad spectrum of applications. The conference is jointly organized by the German consortium Advanced UV for Life and the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA).

UV LEDs produce narrow-band radiation and can be tuned to cover almost the entire ultraviolet spectral range. Their performance characteristics strongly depend on their emission wavelength: the shorter it is the higher are the scientific and technical requirements for material development and LED device technology. Applications of the compact sized, eco-friendly, and flexible light sources range from disinfection of water, air, and surfaces to medical diagnostics, plant growth lighting, and curing of various materials.

ICULTA 2020 offers an international platform for experts in UV LED technology and applications, inviting them to be part of the conference as speaker, attendee, exhibitor, and/or sponsor.

Submission deadline for oral and poster presentation abstracts: November 30, 2019

Conference topics include:

Visit the conference website www.ICULTA.com for further information.

Advanced UV for Life is a consortium of 49 German industrial and academic partners working together in the development and application of UV LEDs. The consortium originates from a research program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

www.advanced-uv.de

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) is an international organization of UV industry, educators, consultants, utilities, and research professionals, with a mission to make the use of ultraviolet light a leading technology for public health and environmental application.

www.iuva.org

Press pictures are available here for download. All images are copyrighted.

Dr. Keith Warriner, University of Guelph, and Dr. Tatiana Koutchma, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada

January 15, 2019

There have been three outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to contaminated romaine lettuce within the last 12 months affecting over 200 people. Since 1995 there have been over 40 outbreaks linked to leafy greens although other produce types such as apples, cantaloupes and soft fruit have also been implicated. There are various routes from production through to the end-user by which pathogens become associated with fresh produce. For large scale outbreaks the typical source of pathogens is contaminated irrigation water with pathogens being spread during post-harvest processing. To date, the main interventions used to enhance the microbiological safety of fresh produce is through good agricultural practice (GAP), testing and post-harvest washing. However, none are effective as demonstrated by the on-going foodborne illness outbreaks. Consequently more effective treatments are required and those based on UV show promise. For example, UV treatment of irrigation water and water-assisted UV post-harvest washing is a further technology. The main challenge with UV is to access the shaded area on produce surfaces. To overcome this limitation, UV based methods based on Advanced Oxidative Process have been developed and currently being applied on a commercial scale. Additionally, research was conducted on application of multiple wavelengths LEDs against common food pathogens on surface of fresh produce. Based on risk analysis of recent outbreaks and produce production chain, this webinar will discuss new approaches to enhance it safety by using UV light through advanced oxidation, water assisted washing and UV LED interventions.

• UV-Based Interventions for Food Safety recording (Requires Flash)

We invite you to attend a free webinar that IUVA is presenting in conjunction with SUNY-ESF on Tuesday, January 15.

New UV-Based Interventions to Enhance the Food Safety of Fresh Produce
Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 02:00 PM EST - 03:00 PM EST

Presented by IUVA, Keith Warriner, Professor and Department of Food Science Graduate Coordinator, University of Guelph, and Tatiana Koutchma, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

>> REGISTER HERE


Webinar Details:

There have been three outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to contaminated romaine lettuce within the last 12 months affecting over 200 people. Since 1995 there have been over 40 outbreaks linked to leafy greens although other produce types such as apples, cantaloupes and soft fruit have also been implicated. There are various routes from production through to the end-user by which pathogens become associated with fresh produce. For large scale outbreaks the typical source of pathogens is contaminated irrigation water with pathogens being spread during post-harvest processing. To date, the main interventions used to enhance the microbiological safety of fresh produce is through good agricultural practice (GAP), testing and post-harvest washing. However, none are effective as demonstrated by the on-going foodborne illness outbreaks. Consequently more effective treatments are required and those based on UV show promise. For example, UV treatment of irrigation water and water-assisted UV post-harvest washing is a further technology. The main challenge with UV is to access the shaded area on produce surfaces. To overcome this limitation, UV based methods based on Advanced Oxidative Process have been developed and currently being applied on a commercial scale. Additionally, research was conducted on application of multiple wavelengths LEDs against common food pathogens on surface of fresh produce.  Based on risk analysis of recent outbreaks and produce production chain, this webinar will discuss new approaches to enhance it safety by using UV light through advanced oxidation, water assisted washing and UV LEDS interventions.

To learn more about the use of UV for food safety, please plan on attending these conferences in 2019:

2019 IUVA World Congress
February 10-13, 2019
University of New South Wales (UNSW) Colombo Hall
Sydney, Australia
http://www.iuva.org/2019-World-Congress

BIG IDEAS for UV+EB Technology
March 19-20, 2019
Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
http://www.bigideasconference.com

Chevy Chase, MD (November 12, 2018) The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) is forming a global working group to support the research and commercialization of ultraviolet (UV) technology for food growth, production, and transport applications from seed to stomach, as well as UV utilization for tea, milk products, and cold-pressed juice preservation. Industry and government experts Peter Gordon and Tatiana Koutchma will serve as co-leaders of the “UV Solutions for Food and Beverage Safety” working group initiative. The group will endeavor to proactively respond to continued public health concerns about dangerous foodborne disease outbreaks while supporting farm and processing plant worker safety and consumer protection requirements.

“Our group will explore global regulations related to UV for food and beverage safety; validation of shelf life extension and spoilage avoidance methods and approaches; and optimization of germicidal configurations. We will also look at market opportunities for UV LEDs in cannabis production and vertical farming,” explains Peter Gordon.

“We are very excited to draw upon existing global IUVA members from government research labs, academia, equipment suppliers and early adopter users, to make up the core participants. Additionally, we extend an open invitation to all interested parties to join with us in this critical human and environmental health effort," adds Oliver Lawal, President of IUVA.

The IUVA UV Solutions for Food and Beverage Safety Working Group is currently developing educational sessions for the upcoming 2019 IUVA World Congress in Sydney, Australia and the BIG IDEAS for UV+EB Technology Conference in Redondo Beach, California.

UV is a proven technology, offering an economically-sound, effective, and versatile, non-toxic, non-chemical, non-thermal process technology. Acceptance of UV as a germicidal agent has become more critical as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and mounting global pressures on the environment, stress safe food and sufficient clean water supplies.

IUVA’s mission is to advance the science, engineering, marketing, and applications of ultraviolet disinfection technologies to enhance the quality of human life and to protect the environment. Founded in 1999, IUVA is a 501(c)3 educational association of more than 500 members in 35 countries. IUVA is recognized as the leading knowledge base and voice for UV technologies through its various conferences, publications, and programs. 

A workshop hosted by the International UV Association
August 27, 2018 - 1:00-5:00 PM
Cincinnati Marriott at River Center

The IUVA is partnering with ASDWA, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, to present training on reviewing UV validation reports on the afternoon prior to the ORD Small System Workshop in Cincinnati, 1:00 - 5:00 pm on Monday, August 27.  The training will be at the Marriott River Center, the host hotel for the ORD workshop.    This training is exclusively for states and requires a separate registration.   For more information visit https://www.asdwa.org/event/reviewing-uv-validation-test-reports-workshop/

Imagine a world where healthcare-associated infections are just a concern of the past. It could happen, but unfortunately today that is not the case. Nation-wide, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) infect one in every 25 hospital patients, account for more than 99,000 deaths and increase medical costs by more than $35B, each year. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) antimicrobial devices are shown to reduce the incidence of many of these HAIs by 35% or more, through the deactivation of the pathogen’s DNA chain by irradiating it with a wavelength of ~254 nm. Recently, automated UV-C-emitting devices have been shown to decrease the bioburden of important pathogens in hospital rooms (Anderson et al., 2013). The irradiation effectively prevents the cells from multiplying. Such DNA damage can result in a permanent arrest of DNA replication and/or transcription, which leads to cell death (Friedberg, 2001). Clinical case reductions of 30-70% in Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) have been reported with similar results for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and others. The methodology works. But, the adoption of UV-C technology by the healthcare industry has been sporadic, largely due to confusion, the lack of definitive knowledge and uniform performance standards or measures for efficacy to help healthcare managers make informed, credible investment decisions. Therefore, maintaining the status quo seems to be the most effective and safest investment approach. However, the leveling of the playing field with scientifically certifiable data of the efficacy of antimicrobial devices will enhance acceptance by the healthcare industry and public, at large, as well as facilitate science-based decision making.

The International Ultra Violet Association (IUVA) and its member companies feel it is incumbent upon them to recognize this knowledge and metrology gap – and act. IUVA is also exploring ways to reduce these “wild” inharmonious market conditions, while developing science-based answers to the healthcare industry’s questions surrounding standards and measures of device disinfection efficacy, as well as reliability, operations and durability.

The overall confusion stems from several reasons. The first and foremost is that there are more than 40 manufacturers of “ultraviolet (UV) sterilizers” producing products, which include all types of designs for: air, water and surface sterilization, and there are at least 12 manufacturers of at least that many antimicrobial devices. Depending upon the model and design the UV-C light sources, each can differ greatly in spectral bandwidth and power outputs. Instrument comparisons are difficult, if not impossible, and no standardized testing procedures are in place to compare or measure the performance of these devices.

The lack of regulation and standards has also allowed each of the 40+ companies to develop their own unique testing and evaluation programs, often using different pathogens, concentrations, testing methodologies and more importantly efficacy criteria. The over abiding result is that there is no clear-cut means for comparison of one unit against another, thus often allowing cost to be the deciding factor for an administrator. But, is that the proper metric? Is advertising and marketing more important than independent-based research for the health of the patients? But, what of the patient’s needs? Clearly lawsuits have occurred between competing companies contesting various performance and operational claims. Past experience has shown that it is necessary to measure the proper performance parameters and justify these measurements with data and not just claims. This “wild-west” mentality in the healthcare market must be corralled so that the market can successfully grow, before something occurs that ruins the industry, for all involved.

As stated above, the IUVA has begun an effort to develop answers to the healthcare industry’s questions surrounding standards and measures of device disinfection efficacy. Standards development activities have proven to have a pronounced effect on product development and the success of businesses in the marketplace. Implementing standards and science-based metrology to ensure product compliance, and other requirements for trade, have been met has been shown to streamline manufacturing processes and trim costs which then leads to increased market share and an improved bottom line.

The development of UV light measurements and standards is critically needed to grow and expand UV technology in all phases of disinfection. Industry wide collaboration and cooperation is needed. The first step is to identify the main needs and then determine positive solutions. It is clear that consensus-based measurements and standards are needed in the UV technology sector; they are infrastructural and typically, if designed properly, pose no competitive advantage to one single company. Companies can openly and readily cooperate together at that level. Once the required solutions are identified to address the infrastructural measurement and standards needed, the solutions can be taken back “behind the curtain” and developed and applied to proprietary processes throughout the industry at the discretion of individual companies. This approach has been extremely successful for the semiconductor and other industries and can be readily applied to the UV industry.

These issues were recently discussed at the IUVA 2018 America’s Conference in Redondo Beach, CA in several HAI panels. An output of the HAI panels was the formation of a formal IUVA Working Group for the Development of Antimicrobial Standards and Initiatives for the Healthcare Industry. The goal is to provide global guidance, with specific programs and deliverables, on the use of UV technologies and standards to combat HAIs and to further the stated aims of the IUVA on its outreach to the healthcare industry.

The working group will develop a set of standards, guidelines and guidance documents related to healthcare applications that include standard methods for validating performance of UV devices and test guidelines for efficacy measurements, as well as discussing the development of a UV roadmap for overall healthcare to include outlines of issues, problems, potential solutions and needs for the future growth and success of the UV industry in healthcare application space.

Fundamental change can be effected through a path of advancing UV efficacy standards and testing protocols to demonstrate UV’s advantages while advocating its increased implementation through education and outreach programs targeting the Nation’s healthcare sector.

Background

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems are gaining popularity, however objective comparisons of their characteristics are lacking. While environmental cultures and reduction of hospital-associated infections rates are excellent study endpoints, they are impractical for centers with limited resources who want to compare or optimize UVGI systems use.

Methods

We evaluated radiometry and commercial test cards, two simple and low cost tools, to compare 2 full size UVGI systems (Tru-D and Optimum-UV Enlight) and 2 small units (Lumalier EDU 435 and MRSA-UV Turbo-UV).

Results

Radiometry-derived output curves show that if both large devices emit enough energy to reach C. difficile lethal doses at 10 ft, the reduction in output in distance is almost perfectly logarithmic. In a patient room environment, Enlight and Tru-D performed similarly when compared using radiometry and commercial test cards. The two small devices reached C. difficile range around the bathroom with the device raised above the floor, but longer times are needed.

Conclusions

Despite different workflows and price points, no clear superiority emerges between Tru-D and Enlight. Bathroom disinfection should be dealt with separately from the main room and small, cheaper units can be used. Radiometry and commercial test cards are promising ways to compare UVGI systems, but further validation is needed using correlation with environmental cultures.

The Full Report: Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards