Atp monitoring as an express method to determine object contamination

The article presents the results of indication of water and surface contamination. The researches were aimed at estimation of water safety and sanitary-hygienic condition of surfaces. To study the contamination of water samples and common surfaces, we used the traditional method and the bioluminescence-based express method. The bioluminescence method is based on determining the total amount of ATP (bacterial, somatic and extracellular) on contact surfaces and in water. The level of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) was determined using the Lumitester PD-30 (Kikkoman, Japan) luminometer device according to the manufacturer's instructions, using special test systems. The ATP bioluminescence method is commercially more available for simple and quick monitoring of the sanitary-hygienic control effectiveness according to the HACCP principles or international requirements. The traditional method of determining water (and other material) contamination was performed by inoculating water or surface wiping on a common nutrient medium and further cultivation under appropriate conditions. The strongest glowing reaction was observed in sea water, which can be explained by the presence of organic substances in it, while the bioluminescence values in potable (bottled) and filtered water tests were most close to control test. The results of testing the sanitary-hygienic condition of surfaces showed that the amount of adenosine triphosphate exceeded the limits in almost all tested objects. However, a slight exceeding of adenosine triphosphate level was observed on the internal surface of new (plastic) food containers. The investigations performed show that the bioluminescence-based express method can be used as a primary control that gives immediate information about the contamination of both surfaces and liquids. Using the bioluminescence method can shorten the time of the study and therefore reduce the cost of the test. However, when determination of qualitative and quantitative composition of the tested object’s microbiota is necessary, then the classical microbiological control must be performed.