MBR UV-C Light Products’ handheld, battery-powered sanitising device provides thorough surface disinfection across a broad range of settings and is proven to kill all germs in less than ten seconds.
With infection prevention and control higher on the agenda than ever in today’s post-COVID world, an extensive and multi-faceted cleaning regime is crucial in any public environment. Alongside standard daily routine cleaning with antibacterial wipes or microfibre cloths, it is important to also consider the germs that we can’t see – like the rise of the so-called ‘superbugs’, MRSA and C. difficile, in the healthcare environment. Over time, bacteria and viruses have mutated to become immune to some chemical cleaners, giving rise to superbugs.
UK-based company MBR UV-C Light Products specialises in UV-C light disinfection technology to achieve a cleaner and safer environment for a plethora of settings. The products use a specific wavelength of the UV light spectrum – 253.7mn, which is the germicidal band. UV-C light breaks down the DNA of germs, preventing them from replicating. Launched in 2009, MBR was the first company in the UK to offer a range of portable, handheld UV-C devices to the commercial industry.
Personal beginnings
The company, founded by Rose Latchman-Bloom, has a very personal story behind its formation. In 2007, Rose’s husband was admitted to a London hospital with heart problems. Whilst in hospital, he contracted E-coli, leading to collapsed lungs, and was placed on a ventilator and told that he would not survive. It took six days to identify that it was E-coli that he had contracted.
Rose told The Innovation Platform: “I vowed to the doctor that he would not die. I would come to the hospital and nurse him back to health myself, which is what I did. Whilst I was there on a daily basis, I watched the staff use the same wipe to clean multiple surfaces. Even during the recent pandemic, I witnessed this practice in hospitals.
“My husband eventually walked out of the hospital and, once he had recovered, I started to think about the cleaning regime I had witnessed in the hospital. I believed it was just spreading germs from one surface to another. From here, I began researching technologies that could be used in conjunction with routine cleaning as a belt-and-braces approach to ensure all germs are killed, achieving the highest level of hygiene.
“I looked at several methods, including plasma, ozone, and UV light. After extensive research, I determined that the UV-C light spectrum at 253.7nm would be the best option and I studied it for two years before importing some handheld UV-C products. UV-C germicidal light is very different from UV-A and UV-B light spectrum.”
UV-C Miracle Wand
The company developed its flagship product, the UV-C Miracle Wand, and had it tested in the UK. The handheld sanitisation device achieved a 99% kill rate of microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses in 20 seconds in laboratory testing. It was proven to disinfect the surface area in just 20 seconds by slowly sweeping the wand over the surface to be sanitised.
The product proved popular in commercial kitchens, hospitality settings, and with cleaning companies. Rose then set out to market her product to hospitals, but this was met with initial resistance.
Rose explained: “The first hospital I approached was the one where my husband had contracted E-coli. I spoke to the microbiologist there and presented the data to support the product and he shut me down. I realised I needed to educate people, so I started to distribute information about the technology, how it works, and its benefits.
“I was then contacted by a major food services and facilities management company wanting to use the product on keyboards in hospitals and call centres, where there are multiple users of the same keyboard. To make it quick and easy to use on a keyboard, I designed a product specifically for use on keyboards that could kill germs in less than ten seconds.”
UV-C Handheld Sanitiser® (UV-C Miracle Wand Version 2)
After some years, MBR UV-C Light Products launched an updated version of the Miracle Wand, rebranded as the ‘UV-C Handheld Sanitiser®’.
The sanitising unit is a powerful and portable battery-powered UV-C sanitiser proven to kill 99.9999% of germs in less than ten seconds. The unit offers rapid disinfection of healthcare equipment, hard and soft surfaces, and individual items.
The sanitiser is ideal for use in a broad range of settings, including offices; commercial kitchens and restaurants; healthcare; hotels; childcare settings; veterinary surgeries; and cleaning companies.
Highlighting the accessibility of the product, Rose said: “My intention when designing our products was to make them affordable and suitable for every setting, whether that is a small office, doctor’s surgery, restaurant, or even a household.
“Every component of the sanitiser has been specifically designed, including the charger and reflector, to enhance rapid sterilisation. It features a specialist rechargeable battery providing up to two and a half hours of usage after one full charge. The UV-C Handheld Sanitiser comes in a bespoke lightweight case that can be easily transported from site to site, making it ideal for contract cleaning companies. The case also includes protective anti-UV glasses and gloves, specially designed to protect the user whilst operating.”
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
The product was launched shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, which had a significant impact on the company.
Rose said: “When COVID happened, I was approached and asked if the product killed SARS-CoV-2. I had it retested in the UK to prove that it could kill SARS-CoV-2 specifically. It achieved a 99% kill rate in just over a second and a 99.9999% kill rate in 5.6 seconds, making it an essential tool in the fight against the ongoing rise and mutation of SARS-CoV-2 and superbugs. Before the pandemic, very little was known about UV-C technology and its benefits. However, it became the main tool in the fight against the COVID pandemic worldwide.
“With this proved, we gained unprecedented interest from everywhere from dentists to a private train company, a cruise liner, and holiday homes. We sold out of almost all products.”
Get in touch
Discussing plans for the future, Rose said: “I would like to see our product in every establishment with high footfall, especially in the healthcare industry. We will continue to develop a range of affordable UV-C products that will lend themselves to every industry.’’
If you would like to find out more about MBR UV-C Light Products, please contact enquiries@uvc-lightproducts.com.
View our UV-C Miracle Wand V.2 (UV-C Hand-Held Sanitiser®) here.
Please note, this article will also appear in the 21st edition of our quarterly publication.
