ATP Technology is Helping Us Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Today, we are hearing many public officials clamor that we need faster and more dependable testing to determine if someone has COVID-19. If they test positive, even if they are asymptomatic, they can isolate for a period of time, so they do not spread the disease to others.
It appears that some systems are now being used with mixed results. But more are on the way that may prove more promising.
Fortunately, when it comes to cleaning, we can determine quickly if a surface is free of pathogens that might prove health threatening. We emphasize the word “might” because these systems cannot tell if a microbe on a surface is health risking or not. What they do tell us is that living cells are on the surface. This suggests effective cleaning may be called for.
What we are referring to is ATP technology.
Because many building and business owners as well as facility managers have questions about this technology, let us explain what ATP is all about in a question-and-answer format.
What is ATP?
ATP is short for adenosine triphosphate. This chemical is produced in every living cell, including bacteria, pathogens, and microorganisms.
What do ATP systems look like?
Several manufacturers make ATP monitors. Although they may have different features, among the similarities is that they are fast, often providing results in a matter of seconds, and most look about the same, resembling a large television remote control.
How does an ATP rapid monitoring system work?
Like using a petri dish, surfaces are swabbed. However, instead of placing the sample in a petri dish, the swab is placed in an ATP device. A few seconds later, a reading of the relative light units (RLUs) is presented on the monitor. The higher the RLU reading, the more ATP is present.
If ATP is found on a surface, does that mean pathogens exist?
Not necessarily. Remember, ATP indicates only that living cells are on the surface. These may or may not be potentially hazardous pathogens. Further, ATP monitors do not tell us what pathogens are on the surface. It just indicates how much ATP is currently present. However, a high reading is typically viewed as a “red flag” that potentially harmful pathogens may be present.
Is there a way to determine what a safe/unsafe amount of ATP on a surface is?
There are no universal standards. Further, these pass/fail thresholds, as they are referred to, can vary based on the manufacturer of the ATP monitor. However, each manufacturer should provide pass/fail guidelines to determine if the amount of ATP on a surface should be viewed as a concern.
How often should surfaces be tested for ATP?
Before COVID, once a satisfactory cleaning threshold had been reached, testing surfaces regularly but randomly would suffice. However, now surfaces must be tested more frequently, in some cases as often as once per day. This tells us four key things:
1. If living cells are present on a surface.
2. Whether a surface has been satisfactorily cleaned and disinfected after cleaning
3. If a surface needs additional cleaning
4. If a trend is developing, indicating that surfaces are becoming contaminated more rapidly than thought.
If a trend is noted, how cleaning professionals perform their duties must also be reevaluated. This determines if they are using the right cleaners and disinfectants and if they are using them correctly.
If there is a higher ATP reading or a trend develops, does this mean cleaning and cleaning products are not being used correctly?
That is one possibility, but it could also mean that the surface needs more frequent cleaning/disinfecting with sufficient wet dwell time required to kill the living cells. However, it could indicate more advanced cleaning technologies should be implemented.
We use electrostatic sprayers to disinfect surfaces.
After cleaning, we apply these systems to surfaces using an antimicrobial disinfectant specifically designed for electrostatic sprayer application.
These systems are far more effective and thorough at disinfecting than can be performed manually and are now the “gold standard” when it comes to lowering ATP levels on surfaces, even hidden surfaces.
We use them because they are helping us stop the spread of COVID-19.
We are infection control experts, here to help building managers keep their facilities cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer, in the most cost-effective ways possible. To learn more about Secure Clean, contact us at 888-609-1410.
