Click to Translate to English Click to Translate to French  Click to Translate to Spanish  Click to Translate to German  Click to Translate to Italian  Click to Translate to Japanese  Click to Translate to Chinese Simplified  Click to Translate to Korean  Click to Translate to Arabic  Click to Translate to Russian  Click to Translate to Portuguese  Click to Translate to Myanmar (Burmese)

PANDEMIC ALERT LEVEL
123456
Forum Home Forum Home > Main Forums > General Discussion
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Will Black Light Detect Viruses?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Now tracking the new emerging South Africa Omicron Variant

Will Black Light Detect Viruses?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Guests View Drop Down
Guest Group
Guest Group
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Will Black Light Detect Viruses?
    Posted: August 16 2014 at 5:21pm
For all you medical people like DrPH...Will a black light detect viruses on surfaces: ie...cans at the grocery store, handle of door to a very busy area, grocery store basket handle?

I want to know this because I will buy a travel black light if you say it will detect viruses.
Back to Top
Technophobe View Drop Down
Assistant Admin
Assistant Admin
Avatar

Joined: January 16 2014
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 88450
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Technophobe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 16 2014 at 5:38pm
As far as I know it can detect some fungal infections of the skin.  I am not aware of any other diagnostic advantage.  Some viruses are killed by UV light.
How do you tell if a politician is lying?
His lips or pen are moving.
Back to Top
hazelpad View Drop Down
Guest Group
Guest Group
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hazelpad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 16 2014 at 5:55pm
Technophobe....UV light in Scotland...your kidding. Not seen any of that around these parts for a while. In the words of William Wallace ..It's fine Scottish weather we're having. The rain is falling straight down and kind of to the side like.
Back to Top
onefluover View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: April 21 2013
Location: Death Valleyish
Status: Offline
Points: 20151
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote onefluover Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 16 2014 at 6:06pm
Interesting question since I am a Certified Laser Specialist and know a thing or three about light waves but unfortunately I don't know the answer to that. But I will say that there are certainly so many other things a black light will illuminate that if you did, you may have a tough time distinguishing what is what.
"And then there were none."
Back to Top
Guests View Drop Down
Guest Group
Guest Group
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 16 2014 at 7:36pm
Sorry guys I meant UV lights! UV detects body fluids so will it detect viruses?

Ok what I am trying to get at can terrorists take Ebola body fluids and put them in a medium spread them in public places?

You say they would die well they blow themselves up all the time.

So I am trying to forward think and see if there would be a way to detect a virus or since it comes from body fluid would it show up under UV light?

Back to Top
Hazelpad View Drop Down
Guest Group
Guest Group
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hazelpad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 17 2014 at 4:51am
While it is true some bacteria such as salmonella do fluoresce under UV/ black light, not aware if any viruses do. The background would probably have to much noise (artifacts). Many cleaning products can fluoresce as they have brightening agents. Cocaine also glows. We use UV to sterilise our safety cabinets after use, but that takes 15 mins.

Back to Top
onefluover View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: April 21 2013
Location: Death Valleyish
Status: Offline
Points: 20151
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote onefluover Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 17 2014 at 7:50am
Hopefully only Pepsi on those. Joking.
"And then there were none."
Back to Top
Humphrey View Drop Down
Guest Group
Guest Group
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Humphrey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2014 at 9:40am
UV light shows bacteria, it can kill some viruses. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. In fact, some viruses infect bacteria. They exist on very different scales. Seeing them with the naked eye would be basically impossible. Bacteria are complex, they have cell walls and form little communities. Viruses don't really do that.

One way might be to have a small electronic device, like a diabetes meter, which could take a quick blood sample and instantly diagnose. The mechanizm of detecting viruses like Ebola, I don't know. I suspect they must have some unique property you could isolate and look for.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down