ATP Test with Clean-Trace™ ATP-meter a special light reaction called bioluminescence, which is based on the biochemistry of fireflies.
ATP can be collected from both surfaces and water. For surfaces, an ATP is used, which consists of a test tube containing a pre-moistened swab and a liquid reagent. For water samples, a dipper is used instead. The swab or dipper is returned to the test tube after sampling.
With a light press, the sample mixes with the reagent and the test is activated. A special light reaction begins, known as ATP. This is the same light reaction found in the black firefly, which works thanks to the insect’s enzyme, luciferase. ATP the energy source, and the principle behind ATP is that the more ATP in a sample, the brighter the light.
The light emission occurs at the bottom of the test tube in an ATP test and cannot be seen with the naked eye. To measure ATP in the sample, a sensitive light meter—called a luminometer or ATP-meter—is required. The SI unit for ATP concentration is the mole of ATP and is typically expressed in femtomoles. However, when measuring ATP, it has proven easier to express the measured value in so-called relative light units, abbreviated RLU.