Validation ATP Meter UNI-LITE NG of 3M at Lyempf, Kampen, Netherlands.

ATP is the abbreviation of Adenosine triphosphate that takes part in the energy household in living cells. The enzyme luciferase reacts with ATP and produces light. The difference in the amount of ATP produces light intensity. All living organisms hold ATP. By measuring this light intensity it is possible to say there is microbiological material present. It also shows if there is organic material present. To sum it up......this all may help us determine to conclude whether a surface has been cleaned or not cleaned to our satisfaction. The protocol of the UNI-LITE NG ATP meter gives the following specifications for milk products; <150 ATP = Pass >151 <299 ATP = Caution >300 ATP = Fail

For the validation of the UNI-LITE NG meter we need to look at: ATP values of different (cleaning-) products. Whether ATP values remain stable over time. Whether daylight influences the swab performance. Whether the swab can be directly used when taken out of the refrigerator The values for milk Comparing ATP values to the CFU22 test and CFU30 test.

ATP values for different (cleaning-)products Because truck are cleaned with lay and acid it is very important to know what influence these 2 products have on the ATP test. A truck can transport different products, so it is important to show what the value is of other products than milk.

Product acid lay soap coffee Tea + sugar Chocolate milk Curry soup Tea without sugar Hot water cold water Salt solution Demi water sterilium Skimmed milk Condensed milk Cream Raw milk

ATP 4 5 4 118 112455 4059 75252 104873 8 18 8 21 3 11224 14306 11361 18187

CFU 30/ml

Conclusion: The ATP values of the cleaning products are <10.

10 17 2442 212 <1 <1 3 10 2.300 1.000 600 120.000

Are the ATP values stable? 2 samples were taken, one sample with high ATP value and one with low ATP values. These samples were tested over time:

ATP value Time in min. sample 1 Sample 2 0 42 15077 1 44 19298 2 44 27050 3 43 26732 4 43 25422 5 41 24007 10 39 19018 30 X 10614

Conclusion: The ATP values from the swabs are stable for 10 min. Between 10 en 30 minutes the ATP values drop.

The following test was done to measure the influence of daylight on the swabs. Sample 1 was put in daylight. Sample 2 was put in the dark.
ATP value time in minutes Sample 1 Sample 2 0 190 185 1 184 180 2 185 186 3 197 189 4 180 188 5 203 187 10 180 171 30 188 158

Conclusion: Daylight has no influence on the ATP swabs in the 10 minutes. The ATP swab can be directly used when taken out of the refrigerator. The 3M protocol states it is wise to take out the swabs from the refrigerator 10 minutes prior to testing. We saw that the values can be higher, but we say in our protocol to test the same swab again after a while if the value is too high. So it will be no problem

What is the ATP value of milk? When will the amount of milk be detectable for ATP? How many times can we dilute milk and still have a ATP value? This sample was raw milk wit a CFU30/ml of 24000.
dilution 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 ATP 18187 2499 357 44 13 12 13

Conclusion: IF diluted 100 times the value is below 450. This means 24000 cfu.ml is diluted to 240cfu/ml. The specification of milk for transport is <5.000cfu/ml. So <450 is a good specification for LYEMPF.

Comparing ATP values to the CFU22 test and CFU30 test. The values in orange are values which are too high, but within specification. Values in red are reason to clean the truck. The truck that had to be cleaned were
ATP mo Specification 100 (450max) Clean the truck 4
ATP lab CFU 22 CFU 30

300 (450max) 4

5.000 4

5.000 5

Conclusion: The same amount of trucks had to be cleaned by ATP as well as CFU.

26-sep 27-sep 30-sep 30-sep 30-sep 1-okt 1-okt 1-okt 1-okt 1-okt 1-okt 2-okt 2-okt 2-okt 2-okt 3-okt 4-okt 6-okt 7-okt 7-okt 7-okt 6-okt 14-okt 14-okt 15-okt 15-okt 15-okt 15-okt 16-okt 17-okt 17-okt 17-okt 20-okt 20-okt 20-okt 21-okt 21-okt 21-okt 21-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 22-okt 23-okt 27-okt 27-okt 28-okt 29-okt 30-okt 1-nov 3-nov 3-nov 3-nov 3-nov 5-nov 5-nov 7-nov 7-nov 10-nov 10-nov 10-nov 10-nov 11-nov 5-dec nogmaals reinigen

time 14:30 11:30 10:00 12:00 16:30 9:40 9:40 11:30 13:45 13:45 16:00 10:15 10:20 10:30 12:40 11:10 10:30 14:50 14:10 16:00 16:20 t123 14:30 15:30 10:15 10:15 13:45 14:15 12:00 9:50 11:00 12:30 8:25 13:50 17:30 10:25 13:30 14:30 1e 14:30 2e 8:30 9:45 11:00 11:00 13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 11:25 15:00 13:30 11:45 12:35 14:30 14:45 14:45 13:15 13:40 9:30 10:40 9:20 10:30 12:20 12:30 9:30 12:00

Transporter ATP mo Baks 43 Baks 11 baks 60 overig 280 Ten Cate 5 Campina 87 Campina 21 Ten Cate 18 Campina 340, 1200, 13 Campina rubber Baks 13 Ten Cate 14 laadslang/koppelstuk 13 Baks 13 Campina 36 Campina 14 Baks 880, 400 Baks 14 Fresena 320/130 Ten Cate 11 fresena na reiniging 90 Ten Cate Baks Baks Ten Cate Ten Cate Baks Campina Fresena Baks Baks Campina Baks Baks Ten Cate Baks Eximo Eximo Ten Cate Baks Baks Ten Cate Hoogtweg Room laadleiding Kleine monsterlepel Grote monsterlepel Fresena Ten Cate Baks Baks Campina Baks Campina Ten Cate Baks Vrebamel Ten Cate Baks Ten Cate Ten Cate Ten Cate Ten Cate Ten Cate Campina Baks Eximo Bevernaggie=overig spec 28 47 39 15 17 23 130 9 19 19 35 25 28 23 31 550 320 23 12 18 18 49 26 17 19 23 6 41 24 34 26 14 17 13 18 8 20 15 25 14 18 22 20 42 24 340 4 100(150)

ATP lab 59 52 67 834 20 351 193 33 51 323 15 14 18 153 209 31 327 22 347 31 448 25 111 81 19 12 23 52 350 13 35 46 36 141 47 11 148 4656 3867 39 39 18 13 299 63 69 90 1139, 57 85 51 162 90 104 49 31 113 115 102 249 67 24 19 29 19 48 49,18 1600 4 300(450)

kiem 22 140 1230 140 5920 <100 2360 1410 <10 <10 <10 20 10 <10 3680 110 <10 2480 <10 60 10 140 <10 40 140 10 2480 40 30 170 <10 1560 20 30 210 <10 <10 160 >100000 >100000 40 420 20 20 >10000 <10 <10 <10 10 10 20 <10 <10 170 <10 970 10 50 <10 350 10 20 <10 <10 <10 <10 10 40 <10 4 5.000

kiem 30

20 6440 <10 380 1080 10 <10 <10 50 <10 <10 8400 280 <10 150 10 430 60 380 <10 70 <10 <10 2120 30 20 190 70 1880 40 40 480 200 200 790 >100000 >100000 <10 600 <10 <10 15520 <10 <10 <10 10 10 530 590 <10 120 <10 1100 130 80 20 180 <10 10 <10 <10 <10 <10 200 <10 <10 5 5.000

The specifications will be: <300 ATP = Pass >301 <449 ATP = Caution >450 ATP = Fail Conclusion: Always do a validation for your own specifications

LYEMPF have tested different ATP-meters in the past. HY-lite, Pocketswab, etc were tested by Numico in 1997. The ATP Meter UNI-LITE NG was tested the best. Some companies (transporters) have purchased an ATP meter, reset their standards and thus improved their performance. They gave operators a tool for quick testing. And so it became a sport for transporters and for operators to have no more discussions with truck drivers on site. But more importantly... they showed and improved the quality of their milk up until it was loaded by the clients. Cfu amounts dropped rapidly from an average of 5.000cfu/ml down to 1.000-2.000cfu/ml. The same amount they had after production and storage in tanks.