References and context for ATP Surface Cleanliness.

A.  Industry Guidelines and Published Standards General Knowledge:

ATP surface cleanliness

ATP stands for Adenosine Tri-Phosphate. ATP is the energy currency of living cells. All living cells contain it. ATP may be present on surfaces either as cells or in released form. Substances that contain ATP include food, recently active cells, and actively living cells. Housedust may also contain ATP, but ATP is more often found in dampness than in dryness. The relative level of ATP present on a surface is an indicator of the general "cleanliness" of a surface.

"Cleanliness" versus "contamination"

While high ATP levels may correlate with contamination, this is not always the case, as "contamination" can also take non-biological forms. "Contamination" simply means presence of particles on a surface, it does not refer to the physical, chemical, radiological, viable or other nature of particles on a surface. A low level of ATP detectable on a surface is an indicator of the general "cleanliness" of a surface, but does not mean a surface is devoid of all contamination. A low level of ATP detectable on a surface can mean that decontamination may have made a difference/improvement to the state of cleanliness of the surface.

"Caution"

A caution should be interpreted as a fail, as recommended by the meter and swab manufacturers. However, if a caution is achieved on a retest of a surface that formerly yielded a fail, then the caution may represent an improvement in surface cleanliness.

Context: The benchmarks and RLU levels reported here are indicative only. Reports produced by IAQ Analytics Pty Ltd may be used for common areas such as households and offices, as well as high cleanliness areas such as health facilities and food manufacturing/food processing/food packaging plants. Interpretation of the meaning of RLU levels by IAQ Analytics is subjective, and is derived from the guidelines set out by companies that manufacture ATP detection luminescence meters, and ATP detection luminescence swabs. These guidelines ae referenced below within Appendix A.

Pass levels are subjective and are determined by the meter and swab manufacturer alone. Caution levels are determined by IAQ analytics. A caution should be interpreted as a fail, as recommended by the meter and swab manufacturers. However, if a caution is achieved on a restest of a surface that formerly yielded a fail, then the caution may represent an improvement in surface cleanliness.

All analyses reported are "at time of sampling".  Clients and their customers should be aware that individual conditions and surface cleanliness will change over time. IAQ Analytics takes no responsibility for correct functioning and calibration of ATP-detection luminescence-assay meters, within the manufacturer's specifications. Such equipment maintenance and correct operation is the sole responsibility of the client. IAQ Analytics takes no responsibility for correct use of swabs as substrates for detection by ATP-detection luminescence-assay meters. IAQ Analytics requires that clients use swabs only in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and instructions. IAQ Analytics has relied on the customer to indicate quantities correctly and does not accept any responsibility for the currency of, or accuracy of, the equipment or swabs used to collect samples, nor for the ability or otherwise of the operator to correctly use the equipment/swabs and submit quantities to IAQ Analytics.

This report cannot be used to characterize the physical, chemical, radiological, viable or other nature of particles that are detectable or undetectable on surfaces, such as living cells, toxins, or harmful substances.

Guideline IV: Protocol for assessing the sensitivity of hygiene test systems for live microorganisms and food residue. W.J. Simpson, J.L Archibald,C.J. Giles. Cara Technology Limited, Leatherhead Enterprise Centre, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7Ry, UK Report 120906, 27 July 2006.

Guideline V: The repeatability of hygiene test systems in measurement of low levels of ATP. W.J. Simpson, C.J. Giles, H.A. Flockhart. Cara Technology Limited, Leatherhead Enterprise Centre, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7Ry, UK Report 30606, 27 July 2006

IAQ Analytics takes no responsibility for the adherence or otherwise, of users of its service, to any guidelines on ATP hygiene monitoring for surface cleanliness determination. Similarly only single time points are reported on here by IAQ Analytics, and the company makes no recommendations on scheduling of any follow-up testing on any surface. With these caveats having been stated, a report on ATP surface cleanliness is available to clients who take responsibility for the following: luminometer equipment maintenance and calibration, all sampling methods used, use of current "in-date" swabs.

Other Published Guidelines

IAQ Analytics Pty Ltd makes no claims of a relationship between ATP luminescence detection and presence/absence of bacteria, fungi or molds. For guidance on the health aspects of dealing with fungi and mold on surfaces in indoor areas, see:  Who Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality – Dampness and Mould. (2009) ISBN 978 92 890 4168 3. Downloaded on 18th Aug 2016, from:
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/43325/E92645.pdf

This report does not report on the microbiological organisms on surfaces, nor does it report on any organic particles other than ATP on surfaces, nor does it report on chemical particles on surfaces, nor does it report on physical particles on surfaces, nor have any microbiological or organic or chemical or physical particles other than ATP been tested for to our knowledge by the submitter/remediator.

For guidance on microbiological precautions when working with surfaces, refer to: Infection control standard precautions in health care (World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland). Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response. © World Health Organization 2006. Downloaded on 18th Aug 2016, from:
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/4EPR_AM2.pdf

This report does not refer in any way to mineral particles on surfaces (man-made or natural), nor have they been tested for to our knowledge by the submitter/remediator. As man-made vitreous fibres and natural vitreous fibres are lightweight and may become airborne, IAQ Analytics Pty Ltd advises clients who seek guidance on that subject matter to refer to: WHO air quality guidelines for Europe, 2nd edition (2000) Chapter 8.2: Man-made vitreous fibres. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark. Downloaded on 18th Aug 2016, from:
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/123088/AQG2ndEd_8_2MMVF.pdf

B.  Empirical Principles of Interest

For guidance on decontamination of organic, chemical, and physical contaminants from surfaces, refer to:

Developments in Surface Contamination and Cleaning, Volumes 1 through 7, Editors: K.L. Mittal, Rajiv Kohli. Elsevier publishers, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Volumes available at the Elsevier Store: http://store.elsevier.com/

C.  Proprietary Guidelines

Guideline: ATP Surface Cleanliness. The ATP Surface Cleanliness system is an established sub-industry system for verifying surface cleanliness, that can be used on any surface where biological material has been, or currently remains, or on surfaces where biological material has never touched. The term ATP Surface Cleanliness © is copyright to IAQ Analytics Pty Ltd. 2016