A study by Sciortino and Giles (2012) published in the American Journal of Infection Control has validated that ATP testing is an effective tool for monitoring the cleanliness of hospital surfaces. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) detection systems measure the amount of organic materials in a sample, such as blood, mucus, bacteria, and viruses. When used to verify the cleanliness of hospital surfaces, ATP testing results indicate whether a surface needs to be re-cleaned or cleaning methods need to be changed.
The study concludes that ATP testing is effective in monitoring sanitation in hospitals. ATP is stable over a ten-day period, unperturbed by sanitizer, and is removed with effective cleaning.
In the study, hospital surfaces were treated with three representative bacteria and blood as biological sources of ATP. Three different ATP detection systems were evaluated and compared.
Some of the study criteria used were the linearity of ATP detection, limit of detection, lack of interference from other substances, swabbing efficiency, clinical sensitivity, reportable range, measure of cleanliness after cleaning, and test variability. Of the three tests, only the Charm Sciences novaLUM and PocketSwab Plus system was verified for use in hospitals without protocol modification.
Reference:Â Sciortino CV and Giles RA. Validation and comparison of three adenosine triphosphate luminometers for monitoring hospital surface sanitization: A Rosetta Stone for adenosine triphosphate testing. American Journal of Infection Control . October 2012. 40(08) e233-9.
Source: Charm Sciences, Inc.
Product Locator: Spring and Early Mother's Day Gift Guide for Infection Prevention Personnel
March 27th 2024Whether it's a spring holiday, birthdays, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers some gift ideas for infection prevention personnel and their families.
The Role of Environmental Hygiene in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance
March 19th 2024Uncover the pivotal role of environmental hygiene in thwarting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for infection prevention teams. Learn how rigorous cleaning protocols and advanced technologies enhance patient safety and combat AMR.
Rare Disease Day 2024: Spotlight on Rare Infectious Diseases
February 29th 2024Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024, shines a global light on the impact of rare diseases, including rare infectious diseases. With a focus on early diagnosis and treatment access, this day highlights the struggles of those with rare conditions.