Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, or UVGI, is the use of ultraviolet (UV) energy to kill viral, bacterial, and fungal organisms. UVGI is also know as UV sterilization or UV disinfection. It works by breaking down certain chemical bonds and scrambling the structure of DNA, RNA and proteins, causing a microorganism to be unable to multiply.

For over 140 years, scientists have known that UV-C is a powerful disinfectant. According to the CDC, UVGI can be used to disinfect air, water, and surfaces.

UVGI commonly use 254-nm UV-C radiation to eliminate even the most hardened and drug-resistant pathogens. UV-C technology is most widely applied in healthcare settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and urgent care facilities. In the post-covid world, corporations and educational facilities are increasingly seeking to add UV technology to their disinfecting routine.