Is Your Cleaning Program Effective?
Are You Conducting Bacteria Testing?
The principal of the test is to highlight where there has been a failure of the cleaning and disinfection procedures designed to minimize the microbial impact on surfaces/patients. Cleaning procedures may have been poorly carried out and any subsequent disinfection is likely to be ineffective. This in turn may allow the proliferation of microorganisms leading to infection risks.
Our bacteria testing and cleaning validation
services is known as ATP monitoring.
We use the most advanced, remote, cleaning verification technology in the
industry. We test and real-time measure residual organic matter that is on a
surface, device, or piece of equipment. ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is an
enzyme that is present in all organic matter – living, or once living –
including blood, saliva, and bacteria.
We provide you with instant test results of the contamination level, which
allows you to verify work performed, or take corrective action in regards to
your cleaning program and procedures.
We provide monitoring surface hygiene through ATP testing.
What is hygiene testing/surface sampling?
The hygienic status of a given surface can
contribute directly to the risk of an adverse outcome in safety. Samples are
collected by:
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) techniques that provide data in real time. Whilst
a small proportion of the signal generated is from microbial ATP, the
techniques are not microbiological.
The principal of the test is to highlight where there has been a failure of the cleaning and disinfection procedures designed to minimize the microbial impact on surfaces/patients.
Samples from surfaces are collected by swabs
moistened with extractant that releases the ATP from any intact cells, usually
from product residue. The released ATP drives the enzymatic conversion of
luciferin to oxyluciferin.
The reaction produces a photon of light for each molecule of ATP consumed.
Therefore, the amount of light produced is proportional to the amount of ATP
present. Results are expressed in Relative light units (RLU) and the bigger the
number the more ATP was present in the sample resulting from elevated levels of
product residue on the surface tested.
This means that cleaning procedures may have been poorly carried out and any subsequent disinfection is likely to be ineffective. This in turn may allow the proliferation of microorganisms leading to infection risks for surface/patient.
What are the benefits?
- Positive release of building surfaces and areas, real-time data allows for re-clean and re-test.
- Improved infection control procedures resulting in fewer nosocomial infections, especially important with the rise of MRSA.
- Fits neatly into HACCP plan implementation as the non-microbiological techniques do not require laboratory analysis.
A robust sanitation verification program is at the heart of any ATP building / surface safety program. Progressive, proactive facilities develop Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) that formalize their cleaning and sanitation test process.
Validation and verification of the facility’s SSOP can be accomplished through a robust hygiene monitoring program. To help with this, Pacific Decontamination Services offers ATP testing of surfaces and products to detect the amount of residue or organic matter, including bacteria, yeast and mold, left on a surface or in rinse water after cleaning.
Read more on the Use of ATP Readings to Predict a Successful Hygiene Intervention in the Workplace to Reduce the Spread of Viruses
Pacific Decontamination Services ATP testing system provides a near-instant measurement of organic material left on a surface. ATP test systems report a numeric value.
Read more on our ATP testing services – Click Here
Other actions you can take:
In most situations, Pacific Decontamination Services can neutralize bacteria up 99.99999%. If our spray, fog or foam can touch it, we can neutralize it.
We neutralize the bacteria in your building by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical everywhere within your property. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by wipe down, spray, mist, foam, or fog. We further kill all airborne spores and bacteria.The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour per 1000 sq feet. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the treated area for approximately 5 hours in total. Read more about how we work.
Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to accepted levels of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.
What do you do next?
Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us!
Serving All of Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.
