Ultraviolet powder versus ultraviolet gel for assessing environmental cleaning.

We compared cleaning rates associated with use of a white ultraviolet (UV) powder versus a transparent UV gel among units with various degrees of previous experience with UV powder. The study outcome was the presence of discordant cleaning (removal of powder without the removal of gel, or vice versa). We found higher frequency of discordance in high-experience units (31%) than in no-experience units (8%) (P < .001). In 92% of discordant findings, the powder was removed but not the gel (P < .001). These findings suggest preferential cleaning of visible UV targets among units with high levels of previous experience with powder.