Could UV light replace hand sanitizer? small study tests safety
NCT ID NCT05313555
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a device that emits UV-C light can safely sanitize hands instead of using chemical sanitizers. Twenty-three healthy volunteers with light skin were exposed to UV-C or UV-B light, and small skin samples were taken to check for DNA damage. The study was terminated early, so results are limited.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ultraviolet light (UV-C) from a tabletop device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a safe, chemical-free way to sanitize hands using UV-C light.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early safety study in healthy volunteers that was terminated early. It only looked at DNA damage, not real-world germ-killing effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
23 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2022
- Finished
-
Sep 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 55 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Good general health * Type 1 or type 2 skin (lightly colored skin) * No history of skin disorders, disease states or physical conditions which would impair evaluation of the test sites * Willingness and ability to follow the protocol * No use of lotion or hand sanitizer 3 hours before the experiment Exclusion Criteria: * Has received an experimental drug or used an experimental device in the 30 days prior to admission to the study * Undergoing treatment or taking medication that increases sun sensitivity * History of keloids * History of sensitivity to lidocaine or epinephrine * Pregnant or nursing women, pregnancy status will be self-reported, women unsure of their pregnancy status will be excluded
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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