Improving ATP Monitoring Technology for Food Safety Surface Sanitation Applications
Implementing and maintaining a validated sanitation program is an essential component of food safety. It is equally important to regularly verify that the cleaning processes that you are using are being correctly implemented and remain effective. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hygiene monitoring tests are one of the most commonly used to verify cleaning effectiveness as they are simple and easy to use and provide immediate results. Most food processing facilities in every category use ATP tests for sanitation verification and experts estimate that more than 50 million tests are conducted every year worldwide.
The method of action of conventional ATP tests involves the reaction of ATP with firefly luciferin (the biochemical that allows a firefly to light) which, in the presence of the enzyme luciferase, reacts with ATP to produce light. The amount of light produced is proportional to the amount of ATP in a sample and this ATP is quantified by measuring the light produced through this reaction using a luminometer, producing the commonly known test result in Relative Light Units (RLUs).