3M Food Safety, St. Paul, Minn., announced the results of a new scientific study conducted by the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, UK, comparing the performance of nine ATP hygiene monitoring systems. The research concluded the 3M Clean-Trace Hygiene Monitoring and Management System was the only system to provide stable and consistent results across time and temperature.

Each system tested for the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an indicator molecule for biological residue that can be found after cleaning and provides an overall measure of cleanliness in production environments. To test the stability of results produced by each system, a known amount of ATP was applied on the swab and read repeatedly over two minutes. The researchers analyzed how the results varied over time, with tests conducted at 10°C, 20°C and 35°C.

The study of stability and consistency determined that all ATP systems do not provide the same quality of results.

“In food production, starting the manufacturing process is a high-risk decision, placing the health of your business and consumers at stake,” says Tom Dewey, global marketing manager for 3M Food Safety. “A reliable ATP monitoring system that provides stable and consistent results allows you to proactively manage risk in your operation and feel comfortable making the decision to go-ahead with production.”

As a worldwide leader of innovative solutions, 3M Food Safety commissioned the research to help the food and beverage industries optimize the quality and safety of their products and to support consumer protection.