Efficiency of microbiological and ATP-bioluminescence methodologies for detecting contaminants on different surfaces

Abstract

In the last 30 years new technologies to analysis the surface cleaning procedures based on rapid technique have been developed. This study compared the efficacy of classic methodologies for microbiological analysis on surfaces, using RODAC® plates and swab, and ATP-bioluminescence technique. The microbiological burden was evaluated on four materials: melaminic laminate, glass, plastic and stainless steel. Samples were collected in four different periods, and at each period the samples were collected from the surfaces after applying a cleaning procedure using alcohol 70% and after being exposed to the in a microbiology laboratory for seven days. A concordance of 100% was found between the classic methodologies and the ATP-bioluminescence technique after cleaning procedure; after the atmosphere exposition, 63,6% of agreement was found between the classic methodology and the RODAC® plates technique (p = 0,006). No significant differences was observed in CFU among four materials after being exposed to atmosphere for seven days. For conducting contaminants analysis on surfaces the classic microbiological methods cannot be replaced by ATP-bioluminescence technique; although the last one can rapidly indicate whether a surface is clean or not, but it should be used along with classic methodologies.