A portable micro-organism inactivation system comprising: a casing
mounting, a UV radiation source, a pump, and releasable tube support for
supporting an elongate tube to define a flow path extending therethrough
which is substantially free of substantial discontinuities are provided
by the present invention. The elongate tube has a first portion and a
second portion wherein the first portion has a UV-transparent wall. The
first portion extends in close proximity to the UV radiation source
within an irradiation zone thereof while the second portion is interfaced
with the pump for pumping of fluid through the system so that
substantially the whole of said individual fluid unit is exposed to a
similar micro-organism inactivating level of UV-irradiation, while
minimizing damage to the desired components thereof. The invention also
provides a method of micro-organism inactivation in a fluid using a
system of the invention.