RESUMEN
The accurate measurement of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, especially within a container or vessel is one of the challenges facing the broad implementation of UV sterilization. Currently, biological indicators are the best method to determine whether an applied UV dose has the necessary efficacy to achieve sterilization. To overcome some of the challenges of using a biological indicator, chemical indicators based upon the degradation of food, drug and cosmetic (FD&C) dyes were developed. In this work, the relationship between UV dose and dye degradation was elucidated and used to create standard curves which could be used as a quantitative measurement system. The use of dye degradation as a measurement of UV dose is especially useful when the levels of UV irradiation within a container cannot be measured directly. Additionally, due to the highly colored nature of the FD&C dyes, the visual changes present upon dye irradiation can be used as a qualitative visual indicator of the UV dose.