Indigo-Clean^® Frequently Asked Questions

Indigo-Clean, a continuous environmental disinfection technology, uses visible light to safely and continuously kill harmful viruses and bacteria within the environment, while also providing ambient illumination within the space. Indigo-Clean is a technology integrated into light fixtures, which install easily into the ceiling of any hospital room, classroom or office space to bolster your current cleaning protocols.


Q: What does it kill?

Indigo-Clean technology is proven to kill bacteria, including MRSA* and C. diff**, as well as other ESKAPE pathogens: Enterococcus Faecalis, Klebsiella Pneumonae, Acinetobacter Baumannii, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Enterobacter Spoecies. It also kills Aspergillus Niger, E.Coli, and Salmonella Enteritidis. It is least effective against non-enveloped viruses, such as Norovirus.

* Rutala W., Kanamori H., Gergen M., Sickbert-Bennett E., Sexton D., Anderson D., Weber D.J., Antimicrobial Activity of a Continuous Visible Light Disinfection System, ID Week 2016
** Indigo-Clean EX only; SGS Lab Report# - 09S17053798 


Q: What is the newest finding concerning the efficacy of Indigo-Clean technology?

Most recently, Indigo-Clean technology has been clinically proven effective in killing 94% of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza-A*.

* https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.14.435337v1


Q: With the COVID-19 vaccine rolling out, is this technology still necessary?

Yes, even with vaccines, COVID-19 is expected to be endemic, and whole-room disinfection systems play an important role in any SARS-CoV-2 mitigation strategy.


Q: Will Indigo-Clean be effective on all variations of the virus? If so, how do you know that?

Further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness against variants of SARS-CoV-2.


Q: How has it been tested?

Indigo-Clean technology was invented by the University of Strathclyde, Scotland in 2005.  After initial laboratory testing, it was tested in occupied patient rooms at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary from 2008-2011. Since that time, the University has continued to invest in additional laboratory and occupied room studies. Commercialization efforts have also included a range of laboratory tests, primarily focused on the application science, and demonstrating the performance of the technology in occupied patient rooms, operating rooms, and emergency departments. Most notably, Indigo-Clean has been shown to improve outcomes by reducing Surgical Site Infections (SSI’s).


Q: Is it safe?

Indigo-Clean uses visible light, not UV, so it is safe for people and materials. Additionally, Indigo-Clean is certified ‘Exempt’ under the internationally recognized standard for safety: IEC 62471. This means that people can be in the space without exposure limits for any period of time.


Q: How long has Indigo-Clean been on the market and why are we just hearing about it now?

Indigo-Clean was launched in 2015with a focus on acute healthcare—the area most likely to benefit from this technology. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of environmental disinfection in a wider range of applications, such as schools, offices, and other public spaces.


Q: Where Should I use it?

Indigo-Clean technology is ideal for operating rooms due to the cost and consequence of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, Indigo-Clean technology’s enhanced product portfolio allows for expansion into other healthcare applications, including patient rooms, restrooms, waiting rooms, nurses’ stations, procedure and exam rooms, and emergency departments. With the need for safe, continuous disinfection punctuated by the pandemic, it is also ideal for use in education, office, hospitality and other public settings where people congregate.


Q: How does it work?

Indigo-Clean technology uses a visible wavelength of light—405nm—generated from state-of-the-art advances in LED technology, to kill harmful viruses and bacteria: oxidizing them from within. This visible wavelength of light reflects off walls and surfaces, providing disinfection even in shadowed areas. Indigo-Clean technology breaks the chain of infection between organism and host, which ultimately reduces the infectivity of bacteria and viruses, including those that cause Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), COVID-19 and the common flu.


Q: Who is this product intended for? 

Indigo-Clean technology is intended for facilities, environmental services, and infection prevention professionals responsible for maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of pathogens throughout a variety of spaces. It is designed to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses that cause Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), COVID-19 and the common flu by bolstering existing infection prevention protocols.


Q: What applications are appropriate for this technology?

Indigo-Clean technology provides continuous environmental disinfection suited for a broad range of clinical applications and congregate settings. The technology works best where there is a concentration of patients, caregivers, students, staff or patrons who contribute to the migration of pathogens throughout the space. It is especially suited for entryways, waiting rooms, restrooms or places that are difficult to clean continuously, and/or where pathogens are known to enter the facility. Within the healthcare setting, it is also ideal for areas occupied by patients whose compromised immune systems make them more susceptible to acquiring an infection.


Q: Is there any difference in the visual appearance of the light vs a conventional fixture?

Depending on the product, the color of an Indigo-Clean fixture may appear slightly different than a normal light fixture due to the addition of 405nm light.


Q: How does the effectiveness of the technology change based on the type of product used?

The dose index factor scientifically determines the necessary light coverage for the space based on the specific product type being installed.


Q: What is environmental disinfection?

Environmental disinfection is the destruction of microorganisms in the air and on surfaces. Its ultimate purpose is to improve the health and safety of room occupants by reducing reservoirs where pathogens often reside and re-populate.


Q: Why is environmental disinfection important? 

Environmental disinfection breaks the chain of infection between pathogen and host. It is a crucial step in helping reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria throughout a space, including those responsible for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), COVID-19, and the common flu.


Q: How does Indigo-Clean technology differ from other available disinfection methods? 

Current environmental disinfection methods are applied at discrete moments in time, classifying them as “episodic.” Although these methods are effective, the results from episodic cleaning are short-lived because germs immediately begin to re-populate the space once the cleaning episode has concluded. We are the only manufacturer that understands how to apply proper dosing to ensure Indigo-Clean kills harmful bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces. Most current cleaning solutions miss the places these pathogens are often found, including the many shadowed areas within a space. To date, Indigo-Clean is the only visible light disinfection technology clinically proven effective through both laboratory testing and published, peer reviewed studies.


Q: Does Indigo-Clean technology replace my currently disinfection protocols?

No. Indigo-Clean technology is designed to reduce harmful pathogens in the environment by supplementing your current disinfection efforts.


Q: Is the disinfection instant? 

Yes, however, the level increases over time as the dose builds up within the organism. In a laboratory setting, 99% disinfection can be achieved in as little as 2 hours. In clinical settings, where pathogens are being reintroduced into the room while Indigo-Clean technology is in operation, a continuous reduction of 70% is realized after the first 24 hours of operation.


Q: Where is Indigo-Clean produced?

Indigo-Clean technology products comply with the Buy American Act and are manufactured in the United States with more than 50% of the component cost of U.S. origin.


Q: Will you license Indigo-Clean technology to other lighting manufacturers?

We have licensed Indigo-Clean technology to other Legrand lighting companies and will consider other licensing opportunities on a case-by-case basis.


Q: What does the announcement concerning Indigo-Clean’s effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 mean for other lighting businesses within Legrand?

We’re very excited about the new capabilities of Indigo-Clean technology, and we are working with our teams at Legrand and Kenall to incorporate this cutting-edge technology throughout all lighting sector product portfolios.