FDA Update

“Put Down the Wand”

FDA Warns Against the Use of Certain Ultraviolet (UV) Wands That Give Off Unsafe Levels of Radiation

Periodically what seems like a good idea goes awry. During the pandemic everyone was looking to keep all surfaces including hands disinfected. One method of disinfecting surfaces was the use of a UV Wand. This device appears to be a cause of concern.

The FDA is warning consumers about the potential risk of injury associated with the use of certain brands of ultraviolet (UV) wands. They implore not to use these UV wands because they may expose the user or any nearby person to unsafe levels of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation and may cause injury to the skin, eyes, or both after a few seconds of use.

The FDA is aware that some manufacturers are marketing unsafe UV wands to consumers to disinfect surfaces and kill germs in the home or similar spaces outside most healthcare settings. The FDA recommends that consumers do not use these products and consider using safer alternative methods.

The FDA has collected and tested samples of UV wands from multiple manufacturers. The FDA has issued Notification of Defect Letters to manufacturers whose products were found to give off unsafe levels of radiation and pose a significant risk of injury to consumers. The FDA plans to work with each manufacturer to ensure adequate corrective actions.

This safety communication provides:

• Important recommendations for consumers who are considering or have purchased UV wands.
• Background on the issue and the FDA’s actions to address the issue.
• Instructions for reporting problems with UV wands to the FDA.

Questions?

For more information on the FDA warnings on UV Wands, please email us at: [email protected] and ref: UV Wands.