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Cleaning

Hygiene Monitoring

What Does Clean Really Mean?

Hygiena® ATP Cleaning Verification Systems help organizations achieve optimal standardized cleaning levels. These systems use bioluminescence technology to identify and measure adenosine triphosphate, commonly known as ATP. This measurement helps organizations objectively determine from a microbiological level if a surface has been cleaned properly and is safe for use, or if it requires a corrective action such as re-cleaning.

  • What is ATP? ATP is an energy molecule found in all living cells that allows cellular metabolism to take place. All organic matter contains ATP. In healthcare facilities, organic matter such as bodily fluids, blood, and bacteria left on surfaces can become a point of cross-contamination between patients and staff, which can lead to infections if not properly cleaned. Therefore, the detection of ATP on a surface after cleaning is an indication of cleaning efficacy.
  • What is bioluminescence? Hygiena ATP tests contain an enzyme called luciferase which produces a bioluminescence (light-producing) reaction when it comes into contact with ATP. The light emitted from the reaction is measured and quantified in a Hygiena luminometer. The unit of measurement for the emitted light is Relative Light Units (RLU).
  • Higher Contamination = Higher RLU - The quantity of light generated by the bioluminescence reaction is directly proportional to the amount of ATP present in the sample. The reaction is immediate, allowing results to be processed in real-time. Results are expressed numerically on the screen in RLU.
  • How are test results tracked? – Test results can be tracked on your luminometer and software by location, plan, and user. This information allows users to clearly associate results with the specific location, or group of locations tested, and who performed the tests.

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