Measuring of ATP bioluminescence as a means of assessing washer disinfector performance and potentially as a means of validating the decontamination process

Raymond Heathcote; Brett Stadelmann

doi:10.1071/HI09019

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Measuring of ATP bioluminescence as a means of assessing washer disinfector performance and potentially as a means of validating the decontamination process

Raymond Heathcote ^A ^C and Brett Stadelmann ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Epworth Freemasons Hospital, Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia.

^B Central Sterile Supply Department, Epworth Freemasons Hospital, Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia.

^C Corresponding author. Email: raymond.heathcote@epworth.org.au

Healthcare Infection 14(4) 147-151 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI09019
Published: 21 December 2009

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of using a commercially available adenosine tri-phosphate bioluminescence (ATP) hand-held device for assessing the level of contamination on surgical instruments throughout the decontamination process. The report demonstrates that this technique may be a reliable point-of-use method for quantitatively assessing washer disinfector function and possibly a means of performing a washer disinfector validation process.

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