ATP Testing

What is ATP Testing?
Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, is the energy molecule found in all living things, making it a perfect indicator when trying to determine if a surface is clean or not.  Many industries use ATP systems to rapidly verify if surfaces have been cleaned thoroughly.   With an ATP monitoring system, ATP is brought into contact with a unique liquid-stable reagent in the test device.  Light is then emitted in direct proportion to the amount of ATP present in the sample, providing information on the level of contamination in seconds.

Why do we need to verify cleaning?
A surface may look clean, but that does not necessarily mean it is clean. Some contamination and debris cannot be seen with the naked eye. Food product is going to be contacting this surface, so it is important to mitigate risk of contamination from that site.

Start Off On a Clean Start
     A clean production environment is a key component to producing safe, quality facilities.  By incorporating ATP monitoring into a quality inspection our staff can confirm cleanliness in seconds.  Your facility is only as clean as you start, so it's best to start the day right.

     The ATP meter dashboard shows you everything in a glance.  This can be configured to prioritize metrics so you can keep your eye on results in areas that need attention. The dashboard can display ATP results,  alerts/warnings, failed locations, and more.  On top of the dashboard, B and B Maintenance, Inc. provides a comprehensive, live report, sharing the results with all of the necessary parties. 

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How is cleanliness measured?
The relationship between the amount of ATP collected in a sample and the RLU result displayed on the luminometer is linear, which makes understanding the technology very easy.  A RLU reading uses measurements of light to determine the levels ATP on a surface.  RLU stands for "Relative Light Unit" and the quantity of the unit is determined by industry standards as outlined.  The RLU reading is directly proportional to the amount of ATP collected from the sample.  A high RLU reading indicates a large amount of ATP at the test location, resulting in the presence of contaminants.

At B and B Maintenance, Inc. we currently use ATP testing to diagnose the problem and determine contamination level both before and after treatment to verify our results.  ATP testing is a CDC, EPA, and FDA approved technique that is used for instant assessment of the cleanliness of surfaces.  Monitoring high traffic touch points is an important attribute to any regular cleaning program.  If these areas are not kept clean and appropriately disinfected, they can cause unacceptably high levels of ATP.   In this case, ATP testing and cleaning will improve your regular cleaning program. 
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Record.  Document.  Analyze.
As a result of identified problem areas, show attentiveness and make some improvements in housekeeping practices. You will receive written recommendations and suggestions, including a graph of a pass or fail test results that will help to enhance your infection control program.

How Clean is Your Environment?
Cleaning you office, medical, or retail environments is an essential part of everyone’s life.  B and B Maintenance, Inc. works with our clients to provide a custom testing and advisory program on how to clean your office or facility.  We offer regular, routine testing or a one-time service, either for cleaning or consultation.  B and B Maintenance, Inc. also offers immediate detailed reports with cleaning guidelines and suggestions on how to keep your facility clean, how to provide regular monitoring, and how to analyze the ATP results.  By partnering with our clients, we can put our best foot forward in keeping your facility and your staff healthy!