University of Alberta develops sanitization tech to kill COVID-19 virus
A new sanitization product aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 will soon be used in Edmonton and Calgary.
The TESER ACT unit was developed through a partnership between scientists at the University Alberta and Calgary based on advanced sanitization technologies company TESER.
It uses ultraviolet-C light (UVC) from hundreds of LED bulbs to kill viruses including the flu, common cold viruses, and E.Coli bacteria, a U of A release explained.
"We determined how much UVC light was required to fully inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from replicating," said Ryan Noyce, research associate at the University of Alberta and one of the scientists who helped develop the device.
Researchers found the technology was able to kill the virus within just one minute.
The university says while UVC light has been known to kill pathogens for around a century, TESER needed scientific proof that it would be effective against COVID-19 in order to meet Health Canada regulations.
"It’s well established technology, UV is well known as a good tool for killing all kinds of biological organisms," said David Ens, professor of medical microbiology at the University of Alberta.
The company created two models which are able to sanitize everything from cellphones to luggage and non-invasive medical instruments.
"Really simply, it’s a decontamination box," said Phil Alle, president and CEO of TESER. "It’s nothing too complicated. We wanted to make it extremely simple for use."
With the possibility of additional COVID-19 variants developing in the future, researchers say the unit is also capable of killing mutations of the virus.
"It’s kind of like fire," said Ens. "Fire will destroy just about anything it doesn't matter (if it’s) a big house,(a) little house, (a) stone house."
The company hopes to use the device in the medical field, including in laboratory practices in the future.
"Helping with testing, being able to bring out instruments or things that have been exposed to viruses (and) being able to clean them faster and move between labs," said Alle.
He says TESER is also working on an air sanitization unit which could integrate UVC technology to kill multiple viruses.
The government of Canada has given the company a grant for the first 10 units, which are planned to be used at the Edmonton International Airport and government offices in Edmonton and Calgary this spring.
The project was funded with help of the federal and Alberta governments through research and innovation agencies including Alberta Innovates and InnoTech Alberta.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.