Author’s Note: Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous. Do not, under any circumstances, use the SOLARIX UV light sanitizer wand on or in close proximity to living things. This includes, but is not limited to, eyes, skin and hair, donned clothing, and pets of any kind.
We’re not going to mince words. COVID-19 is as terrifying as it is unprecedented. Not only is its death rate now in the millions, there’s also evidence of debilitating long-term effects even in those who experienced only mild symptoms.
Unsurprisingly, amidst the widespread panic generated by this global pandemic, there’s been no shortage of snake oil salespeople and woo peddlers looking to make a quick buck off people’s fears. Claims of miracle cures exist in abundance, from essential oils to unrelated medication to household chemicals. UV light sanitizer wand manufacturers frequently fall under this umbrella, and multiple government agencies have issued advisories regarding the efficacy of these products.
The Acuva SOLARIX stands apart from these products in a few ways. First, its manufacturer has a long history in UV light sanitizer technology. Its water purification technology, available to both OEMs and the consumer market, even received funding from the Canadian government in 2018.
Second, it does not mince words about the hazards of UV-C radiation. Many of the more unscrupulous sellers make bogus claims about how their product is completely, 100% safe. Acuva, on the other hand, features clear warnings not just on its packaging, but in its instructions and on the product itself.
Finally, according to Acuva, the SOLARIX UV light sanitizer wand has been independently validated to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. And in December, the company responded to Health Canada’s advisory about false or misleading COVID-19 claims with a message of support. It even provided a list of peer-reviewed evidence regarding UV-C’s effectiveness against the novel coronavirus.
But does this mean the SOLARIX is an effective means of warding off COVID-19? Maybe, maybe not. The best way to know for sure is to take a closer look at the product — how it looks, how it functions, and what it does for cleaning surfaces.
Pricing
Retailing at around $149 USD, the SOLARIX is admittedly at the higher end of the spectrum as far as pricing is concerned. At the time of writing, it’s also available exclusively through Acuva’s website. That said, you get what you pay for.
In our experience, many cheaper UV light sanitizer wands either don’t emit the proper wavelength of radiation or don’t emit enough radiation to be particularly efficient when cleaning surfaces. And few, if any, have been independently validated as effective.
Look and feel
Although it’s a bit bulkier than other sanitizer wands, the SOLARIX still looks incredibly cool. Its rectangular body sports a simple, understated gray and white color scheme with an unobtrusive, curved hinge at one end and a charging port at the other. When the wand isn’t in use, the emitter folds in on the handle, protecting its LEDs and allowing for easy transport.
The SOLARIX both fits well in the hand and has a good bit of weight to it. That said, it can feel a bit awkward to use when it’s unfolded. This is largely due to the fact that, though the UV emitter is afforded a full range of motion via the hinge, it cannot be activated at any angle below 180 degrees. This design is meant to prevent any UV exposure to the user’s hand when in use, ensuring the UV-LEDs face away from you.
While we appreciate the added safety feature (one of many, detailed at length below), we’d have preferred at least a little more freedom. We should also note that, though the SOLARIX ships with a pair of protective gloves, it does not include protective eyewear. Fortunately, you only need a rating of UV400 to keep you safe, which most polycarbonate lenses have by default.
This means that a standard pair of sunglasses should be enough to protect you.
Design and functionality
Here’s where the SOLARIX really stands out. It’s designed, first and foremost, with user safety in mind. As we’ve already mentioned, UV-C radiation is incredibly dangerous, and most wands offer nothing in terms of user safety.
In addition to locking off its UV emitters until the wand is fully unfolded, there’s also a switch on the side of the device that can be flipped to prevent accidental activation. The SOLARIX also features built-in LEDs that let you know where the UV emitter is pointed at a glance. Finally, the UV light sanitizer wand is configured to automatically deactivate itself if it’s left on for more than three minutes.
In terms of usability, we found the SOLARIX to be incredibly intuitive. Activating it is as simple as either pressing and holding the button on its handle for a full second, or tapping it twice. This button also serves as a visual indicator of the SOLARIX’s status while in-use.
Can the Acuva SOLARIX UV light sanitizer wand protect you from COVID-19?
According to Acuva, the SOLARIX can eliminate all microbial contaminants from a surface almost entirely with approximately one full minute of uniform scanning, including COVID-19. Unfortunately, we were unable to personally verify the latter half of this assertion. This is where independent third-party validation comes in.
Per Acuva, a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory in Buffalo, New York has validated SOLARIX against SARS-CoV-2, with test reports showing 99.9% disinfection after just 10 seconds.
While we acknowledge that there is scientific evidence that UV radiation is an effective means of killing the novel coronavirus, it’s important to note that this is in ideal laboratory conditions. It’s not certain how effective this radiation would be in the wild. Moreover, given that the virus is only a year old and still has emerging variants, research into it is still ongoing.
Final verdict
The SOLARIX UV light sanitizer wand is an impressive product. It looks good, it feels good, and it’s easy to use. And while we know for a fact that UV-C radiation is effective at killing viruses, exposure times required to destroy viruses like SARS-CoV-2 may vary.
The good news is that UV does not discriminate. Even if we’re not certain how quickly the wand can kill COVID, we do know it has strong germicidal properties. UVC photons disrupt the RNA of a virus, rendering it functionally inert.
Because UV-C radiation has carcinogenic properties, improper use of the UV light sanitizer wand also has the potential to cause injury. To its credit, Acuva has installed multiple safeguards to prevent this from happening. Still, it’s something of which you need to be aware.
Ultimately, if you’re going to use the Acuva SOLARIX for cleaning surfaces and guarding yourself against COVID-19, understand that it’s not a replacement for other protective measures. Instead, you should regard it as one more safeguard. One more tool in your arsenal alongside masks, thorough sanitization, and social distancing.
Basically, using the SOLARIX can’t hurt, but you also shouldn’t go licking any toilet seats — even if you do use the wand on them first.