When Ebola captured global attention in 2014, organizations around the world searched for effective ways to address one of the most concerning microorganisms of the time.
For Dr. Jeffery Deal, inventor of the Tru-D® Classic device, the questions quickly became more than theoretical.
As concerns about Ebola grew, staff at Emory University contacted Tru-D® SmartUVC seeking answers about whether ultraviolet-C (UVC) technology could inactivate the microorganism. Dr. Deal was brought in to evaluate the science and assess the technology's potential role in environmental disinfection.
What followed was a journey that would take the Tru-D® device far beyond its Memphis roots.
Dr. Deal to After evaluating the available data, Dr. Deal traveled to Liberia during the height of the Ebola crisis, bringing Tru-D® devices to support environmental disinfection efforts. The devices were donated to Dr. Deal by then president and CEO of Tru-D® Chuck Dunn. Working alongside local officials and facility staff, he helped implement the technology and provide training on its use.
The experience reinforced something Dr. Deal had long believed: science-based environmental disinfection plays an important role in addressing microorganisms of concern.
Tru-D® devices use patented Sensor360™ technology to measure and deliver a calculated UVC dose throughout a room. Unlike systems that rely on a fixed cycle time, Tru-D® automatically determines the dose needed to achieve a thorough level of disinfection based on room size, surface reflectivity and other environmental factors.
Today, Tru-D® devices have demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms, including Ebola, C. difficile, MRSA, VRE, Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida auris, SARS-CoV-2 and others.
More than a decade after Dr. Deal's trip to Liberia, the lesson remains the same. New microorganisms will continue to emerge, and familiar ones will continue to challenge organizations around the world. The need for science-backed environmental disinfection, however, remains constant.
For Tru-D® SmartUVC, the story of Liberia is more than a chapter in company history. It is a reminder of why the technology was developed in the first place: to help organizations address microorganisms through measurable, evidence-based environmental disinfection.
When the call came, Tru-D® SmartUVC answered. And the commitment to innovation, science and environmental disinfection continues today.
