Does UV-C light kill germs? See the lab results.
Do UV phone sanitizers work? Here’s the proof.
Short answer: yes — and we have the lab reports to prove it. Independent, accredited labs have measured PhoneSoap’s UV-C phone sanitizers against the bacteria and viruses you carry around every day, with results up to 99.99%+ eliminated. Here’s exactly what was tested, by whom, and how.
UV-C light, optimized.
PhoneSoap isn’t just a bulb in a box. Every device is engineered around the three variables that decide how much germicidal UV-C actually reaches a surface: intensity, distance, and time. A UV-C-transparent quartz plate suspends your device between the bulbs, and a reflective interior wraps the light all the way around it — top, bottom, and edges.
The cycle length is then tuned to the intensity and distance of the bulbs so that even the hardest-to-reach point still reaches 99.99% disinfection — anything directly under the light is sanitized faster still. No heat, no chemicals; the same UV-C wavelength used to disinfect hospital tools and water, in a sealed, eye-safe chamber.
See it in this Discovery Channel feature, then dig into the lab results below.
Why these results hold up.
What each device is tested against.
The quick version — the full breakdown, with labs and methods, is below.
| Device | Sanitizes | Lab-tested against | Verified by |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhoneSoap 3, Basic, Go & Wireless | 99.99% | Salmonella, E. coli, MRSA, Staphylococcus, H1N1 (flu), Rhinovirus (cold), Rotavirus, Human coronavirus (229E) | BioScience (GLP), Microchem, Blackrock |
| HomeSoap | 99.9% | E. coli, Staphylococcus, MRSA, Salmonella, Human coronavirus (229E) | Blackrock, Microchem |
| PhoneSoap Pro | 99.99% | Salmonella, Human coronavirus (229E), SARS-CoV-2 | Microchem, Blackrock |
| ExpressPro | 99.999% | C. difficile spores, S. aureus / MRSA, Salmonella, SARS-CoV-2, Human coronavirus (229E) | Microchem (GLP) + clinical studies |
| SurfaceSoap UV | 99.99% | Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Human coronavirus (OC43) | BioScience (GLP) |
Broken out by device, lab, and method.
PhoneSoap 3, Basic, Go & Wireless
99.99%†HomeSoap
99.9%†PhoneSoap Pro
99.99%†ExpressPro · Healthcare
99.999%†SurfaceSoap UV
99.99%†How we test — and why we can say 360-degree.
Most “does it work” pages stop at a percentage. If you actually want to know how that number is produced — and why it covers your whole phone, not just the screen — here it is.
How a single device is tested
- Real device, multiple spots. Instead of dabbing germs on one convenient spot, the lab inoculates a measured dose of live bacteria or virus at several points across every side of an actual phone — the front glass, the back, and the edges.
- Dried into a film, often soiled. The inoculum is dried onto the surface, and for the tougher protocols it’s mixed with an organic “soil load” — proteins that mimic the oils and residue your phone picks up from real hands and faces.
- A real cycle is run. The device runs its normal UV-C cycle — nothing accelerated or idealized.
- Survivors are counted. Each spot is recovered and the surviving organisms are counted against an identical, untreated control device.
- Every point has to pass. The reduction is calculated per spot — so a device only earns its claim if even the hardest-to-reach point clears it, not just the face under the bulb.
The standards behind the numbers
Testing performed by independent, accredited third-party laboratories including BioScience Laboratories, Microchem Laboratory, and Blackrock Consulting & Services.
The design that makes 360-degree possible
UV-C only disinfects what it directly reaches, so a device only earns a whole-phone claim if the light gets everywhere at once. Two design choices make that possible — and the every-side testing above is what holds them to it.
Why a lot of cheap “UV sanitizers” don’t work
If you’re comparing, watch for two red flags:
- It’s not real UV-C. Many knock-offs use cheaper UV-A or visible “blacklight” LEDs (that purple glow) that look the part but barely touch germs. Germicidal disinfection requires true UV-C.
- It only spot-cleans. Even some that use real UV-C put a single bulb or LED on top — so at best they sanitize one side, and often only the small patch directly under the light. The back and edges sit in shadow, and most of your phone never gets sanitized.
Sanitize what you touch most.
The lab results are in. Put hospital-grade UV-C to work on your phone and everyday essentials.
Shop UV phone sanitizers