Abstract: Ultraviolet (UV) blood irradiation apparatus for the in vitro irradiation of blood wherein an irradiation station receives blood and irradiates blood passing through the station and a substantially planar, tube-like, elliptically-shaped body made of a material that transmits UV wavelengths in the range of 2,000 and 12,000 angstroms and an input and an output port at opposite ends thereof for respectively inputing and outputing blood, respectively; a UV source generating a low heat output whereby the irradiation station does not require cooling; a peristaltic pump receiving blood from an animal or human and pumping it through the irradiation station and returning the blood to the animal or human after passage through the irradiation station; power control switches for respectively turning power on/off from a source of electric power, and electrically connected to the pump and the source for activating/deactivating the pump and the UV source, respectively; a housing in which the irradiation station, pump and po