Bioluminescence ATP Monitoring - Effectiveness and Costs

Does someone uses this method in their company? Do you have an idea of the costs and actual benefits? I've read that can be used for monitoring surfaces hygiene and hands also.
Don't you think that there is a lot of factors that can influence the measurement specially in hands swabbing? or this variations can be known with a series of method and estimate error?

Would you recommend it?

Does someone uses this method in their company? Do you have an idea of the costs and actual benefits? I've read that can be used for monitoring surfaces hygiene and hands also.
Don't you think that there is a lot of factors that can influence the measurement specially in hands swabbing? or this variations can be known with a series of method and estimate error?

Would you recommend it?

Dear Guillenclau,

Indeed there are many threads on the ATP technique here and also seemingly many users also . Unfortunately the forum search engine requires 4 letters minimum so I cannot suggest you try a direct scan of posted data.

As a starter, maybe try this 2009 thread -

http://www.ifsqn.com...dpost__p__33365

Not a user personally since I was deterred a few years ago by the start-up cost of the system but I expect prices hv come down currently. From the threads on this forum, there are both advantages and the opposite, particularly depending on what you actually want to do with it (??).

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Guillenclau,

Indeed there are many threads on the ATP technique here and also seemingly many users also . Unfortunately the forum search engine requires 4 letters minimum so I cannot suggest you try a direct scan of posted data.

As a starter, maybe try this 2009 thread -

http://www.ifsqn.com...dpost__p__33365

Not a user personally since I was deterred a few years ago by the start-up cost of the system but I expect prices hv come down currently. From the threads on this forum, there are both advantages and the opposite, particularly depending on what you actually want to do with it (??).

Rgds / Charles.C

Thanks for the info Charles, We are interested in using this technique to evaluate cleanliness of surfaces and also thought that could be a good indicator of hands hygiene.
I read some papers were the have indeed used this method for hands as well, but probably in this case would be less accurate. If it is not too expensive would be interesting to do some measures in time and have statistical results of regular values in hands. What do you think?

Dear guillenclau,

From memory, there are some posts here on testing use of ATP for hands with data also. Unfortunately I can't think of any easy way to locate them. (searching "hand" or "hands" will generate an encyclopedia).

From memory again, the quantitative conclusions were not favourable but i might be wrong.

Other actual users have any comments ????

Rgds / Charles.C

Thanks for the info Charles, We are interested in using this technique to evaluate cleanliness of surfaces and also thought that could be a good indicator of hands hygiene.
I read some papers were the have indeed used this method for hands as well, but probably in this case would be less accurate. If it is not too expensive would be interesting to do some measures in time and have statistical results of regular values in hands. What do you think?

Try 3M's or Hygiena

Both do kits that include swabs and monitors. Used quite extensively in the UK as a means for checking cleaning.

Caz x

ATP is a useful indicator for surface cleaning effectiveness. Alphabetically, the main suppliers are Biocontrol, Charm Sciences, Hygiena, Kikkoman, LuminaUltra, 3M, Neogen, R-Biopharm. Because ATP is in an abundance in hands, recommend it only be used as an educational teaching tool for handwashing hygiene compliance e.g., soiled hand is typically > 100,000 RLU; properly washed hand is < 10,000 RLU. The problem is that even a washed hand that doe not touch other surfaces will eventually trend towards higher ATP levels due to skin cells shedding and perspiration. In the 90s a study showed higher ATP levels on hands from managers on production floor than line workers. Makes sense as managers are touching more soiled surfaces moving between depts/offices, and also often fall short of HW compliance sops compared to line workers, who wash more often or more diligently due to routine practice.

ATP is a useful indicator for surface cleaning effectiveness. Alphabetically, the main suppliers are Biocontrol, Charm Sciences, Hygiena, Kikkoman, LuminaUltra, 3M, Neogen, R-Biopharm. Because ATP is in an abundance in hands, recommend it only be used as an educational teaching tool for handwashing hygiene compliance e.g., soiled hand is typically > 100,000 RLU; properly washed hand is < 10,000 RLU. The problem is that even a washed hand that doe not touch other surfaces will eventually trend towards higher ATP levels due to skin cells shedding and perspiration. In the 90s a study showed higher ATP levels on hands from managers on production floor than line workers. Makes sense as managers are touching more soiled surfaces moving between depts/offices, and also often fall short of HW compliance sops compared to line workers, who wash more often or more diligently due to routine practice.

Dear Oisin,
First of all, and thanks for your input. That was exactly what I was thinking, but did not find reliable studies to support it. If you still have that information I would really appreciate it.

Dear Oisin,
First of all, and thanks for your input. That was exactly what I was thinking, but did not find reliable studies to support it. If you still have that information I would really appreciate it.

The study was conducted at the Kimron Veterinary Institute in Israel. Sorry, I cannot find the direct reference. Did find this paper: http://deepblue.lib....arker, 2003.pdf

ATP systems vary on price and sensitivity, and each system has to be set for hand washing threshold limits. As a rule, cheaper systems are insensitive. I would recommend establishing a clean RLU baseline from multiple tests on multiple properly cleaned hands, and rather than (x2), set the handwash compliance RLU limit to baseline (x10). Make sure to set baseline in the environment where studies will be conducted as environmental temp will effect ATP readings. Also, avoid testing out-of doors, as photoluminescence will cause false positives. Good luck.