How to Prepare Your Hospital for the New UV-C Disinfection Standard

The publication of the first official NEN standard for UV-C disinfection marks a major step forward for Infection Prevention. Hospitals now have a validated, evidence-based framework confirming UV-C as a safe, effective, and sustainable method for disinfecting non-critical and semi-critical medical devices. This guide explains what the standard means and how hospitals can prepare their workflows accordingly.

A major milestone has arrived in Infection Prevention:

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The Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) has officially published the first-ever standard for UV-C disinfection of non-critical and semi-critical medical devices. This confirms what many hospitals already know: UV-C is a validated, safe, and sustainable method for modern clinical workflows.

But what does the new NEN standard mean for your hospital?
And how should Infection Prevention teams, CSSDs, and clinical departments prepare?

This guide explains the impact clearly, practically, and backed by evidence.

What the New NEN UV-C Standard Covers

The standard provides a validated framework for using UV-C disinfection on:

Non-critical devices (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes)
Semi-critical devices (e.g., TEE probes, surface probes, endocavity probes)

It defines requirements for:

UV-C dose validation
Repeatability
Documentation
Efficacy testing
Safety mechanisms
Performance standards

For hospitals, this is the first official recognition that UV-C is not experimental it is a validated disinfection method.

Why This Standard Matters for Hospitals

Hospitals have long struggled with variability in reprocessing especially for fragile, high-use devices like ultra sound and TEE probes.

This new standard helps hospitals:

Improve audit readiness through repeatable workflows
Reduce dependence on chemical disinfectants
Increase staff safety by minimizing exposure
Protect delicate probes from chemical wear
Save time through fast, automated cycles
Move toward more sustainable workflows

Learn more about the benefits here:
Why Cleaner Workflows Mean Happier Staff and Safer Patients

What Infection Prevention Teams Should Do Next

Step 1: Review Current Reprocessing Policies

Compare your existing practices, chemical wipes, manual logs, cycle times to the new standardized guidance.

Step 2: Identify Devices That Qualify for UV-C

Priority items include:

Surface probes
Channel-less instruments
High-turnover devices

If you’re concerned about compatibility, you can check your exact equipment here for the D60 and here for the D45.

Step 3: Evaluate Current Workflow Risks

Ask:

Are staff disinfecting in multiple ways?
Are logs inconsistent or missing?
Are chemical wipes causing irritation or fatigue?
Are probes being damaged by harsh agents?

Many hospitals discover their pain points immediately when they map their workflow.

Step 4: Compare Validated UV-C Solutions

The standard emphasizes:

Correct wavelength
Validated dose delivery
Microbial efficacy
Consistent cycle performance
Safety interlocks
Traceability

Recognizing UV-C as a valid part of the NEN standard has been nearly a decade long process. Every UV-C myth has been reviewed and debunked at the highest levels.