This experimental study assessed 34 air-sanitizing devices using aerosols from human throat swabs containing viable wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron and Delta variants). Devices incorporated filtration, UV irradiation, or hybrid mechanisms, demonstrating complete neutralization of viral infectivity via antigenic tests, qPCR (achieving >99% reduction or a 4096-fold decrease in viral load), and cell infectivity assays in VERO cells. Filtration captured virus-laden droplets, while UV-C irradiation inactivated virions by damaging genetic material; combined systems proved most robust. One filtration-free UV-LED variant required 10 minutes for efficacy, highlighting timing dependencies. Under high viral loads and single air passages, 97% of devices effectively mitigated airborne transmission.
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