The present invention relates to a device adapted for the inactivation of pathogens in a biological sample, which device has a container; the container delimits a UV-C inactivation chamber; a light source that emits light in the UV-C range (100 nm - 280 nm); a support structure adapted for accommodating samples; where, on the one part, the container contains a prism or cylindrical shaped central element; on the other part, the container contains two hemisphere-shaped closing elements, where the hemisphere-shaped closing elements cover the central element in such a way that the inside of the hemisphere faces towards the inside of the central element, at least a part of the internal surface of the closing elements is provided with a coating that reflects UV-C light at least partially or it is made at least partially from such a material; at least one of the hemisphere-shaped closing elements can be opened; the light source has a longitudinal form and is located in and parallel to the axis of the container; each of the positions of the samples in the support structure formed for accommodating the sample-holding tubes are substantially at the same distance from the light source. The invention also relates to a method implemented with the device.