By Perri Katzman, Ph.D., Marketing and Communications Strategist, RadTech
On a crisp and sunny spring morning, a diverse group from around the world gathered in Washington, DC with a shared goal: Boost the reach and use of germicidal UV (GUV). The venue, the American Geophysical Union Conference Center – a remarkable net-zero energy building – was a fitting backdrop for an event focused on a healthier future. Attendees convened for the workshop, “Advancing UV Germicidal Efficacy Measurement: Metrology, Standards, Data and Protocols,” co-hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA). The purpose of the workshop was to improve measurement and standardization of GUV efficacy for air and surface disinfection.
Over two and a half days, from March 18-20, 2025, attendees heard plenary talks from prominent voices in the field, engaged in panel discussions and participated in breakout sessions. During these breakout sessions, participants met in smaller groups to discuss current challenges, devise potential solutions and formulate action plans. With input from a dedicated, interdisciplinary steering committee, co-chairs Dianne Poster and Joy Dunkers, both from NIST, masterfully designed the workshop to be just that: a workshop, not a conference. Attendees played an active role in shaping the event and its outcomes.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from across the GUV ecosystem, including industry, academia, government agencies and nonprofits. Scientific disciplines ranged from physics and public health to metrology and microbiology. Roughly half of the 78 attendees came from industry, highlighting the commercial interest and commitment to GUV applications. This rare opportunity for collaboration between sectors left everyone with a more holistic view of where the field stands with respect to performance criteria for the GUV sensitivity of microorganisms and how these can evolve toward best practices.
Despite the variety of backgrounds, common themes echoed throughout. Workshop attendees lauded the enthusiasm and optimism from the wide range of stakeholders. Along with domain-specific recommendations to advance best practices in GUV, each breakout group independently identified a need for clearer communication to consumers and policymakers. All agreed that a broader understanding of the benefits and use of GUV by the general public is important for the technology to achieve widespread adoption.
Currently, the steering committee is preparing a comprehensive workshop report summarizing key discussions, findings and recommended next steps. The event underscored the importance of harmonization in testing protocols and the on-going progress from industry and standard development organizations (e.g., ASHRAE) in developing best practices and benchmarks. The workshop provided an opportunity to drive towards a collective vision for the industry, to strengthen professional ties and to shape the dialogue to guide a community of practice forward for GUV.