ATP TESTING

Shocking statistics!!

How safe are your staff and customers?

Do you have any idea how unclean your clean mobility equipment actually is?

Do water blasters and alcohol wipes stop bugs or viruses from spreading?

Through our routine testing we found 100% of client equipment had excessively high ATP readings. Readings of 300RLU or more on the ATP meter indicates 99.9% probability the area is covered with a bacterial biofilm. The average we are finding is 2500RLU with the highest being 5966RLU. With one cycle of the HUBSCRUB unit that figure of 5966RLU came down to 373RLU (still 99.9% likely chance of bacteria) a second wash and it was down to 28RLU (1% likely chance of bacteria).

With constant and repetitive weekly cleaning, disinfection and decontamination with our HUBSCRUB unit and dry steam machine the more likely contagious pathogens will be eliminated from your establishment.

So what is ATP?

ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, which is an energy molecule found in all living things. When you test for ATP on a surface, you test for the presence of microorganisms.

For reference, the chart below from Z BioScience shows the probability that biofilm is left on surface based on ATP test results.

Relative Light Units (RLU)*
The amount of ATP measured is expressed in Relative Light Units (RLU) using our Luminometer. The
higher the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) measured the higher the RLU value will be.
Results between 150 and 299 RLU are in the caution category. Test results equal to or greater than 300
RLU are a fail.

The lower the reading the cleaner the surface is.

For hospitals, aged care facilities, offices, hospitality industry, gyms, commercial kitchens, and more, ATP testing is a fast, cost-effective way of gauging the extent and effectiveness of routine cleaning and identifying problem areas where otherwise bacteria would flourish undetected. ATP testing can deliver results in less than 30 seconds, and provide peace of mind for business owners, managers, workers, and visitors. A clean workplace makes for a happy and healthy workforce, reducing absenteeism and saving costs on lost productivity and sick days.

ATP Testing can be used to detect bacteria, fungal growth, food waste, yeast and biofilms all of which contain ATP (Adenosine Trisphosphate). It cannot detect, bacterial spores, influenza virus or Coronavirus as they do not contain ATP.

For this reason, ATP testing is not a good indicator of the presence or absence of Coronavirus. It is, however, extremely useful for judging the effectiveness of general cleaning conducted in an area. If an environment is clean of biological contaminants, it is likely to have been cleaned sufficiently to combat viruses as well.

The difference between Bacteria and Bacterial Spores

There are not many bacterial genera that are spore formers therefore most bacteria are heat sensitive.

One bacterial cell can form one spore. Bacterial spores are formed inside bacterial cells (endospores) and are therefore smaller than the initial cells.

Spores are small bacterial cells with thick, resistant, cell walls that protect them against unfavourable circumstances. The cytoplasm of the spore is quite dehydrated, and that makes it more resistant to heat.

While in the spore stage, very little metabolic activity takes place, and therefore the spore can survive for extended periods without the uptake of external nutrients. Endospores >therefore, are small, resistant, dormant, bacterial cells. While dormant, therefore, the spores are not dangerous to your health.

Each endospore contains the complete bacterial genome. Under favourable circumstances the spore will "hatch" to give rise to an active bacterial cell. This cell, if pathogenic, or toxigenic, can be dangerous to your health. Many spore formers are spoilage organisms and can therefore spoil foodstuffs that were not well-preserved by heating.

CONTACT US TODAY TO DISCUSS ATP TESTING