The ATP test is a process of rapidly measuring actively growing microorganisms through detection of
adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an organic compound that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, condensate dissolution, and chemical synthesis. Found in all known forms of ...
, or ATP.
Method
ATP is a
molecule
A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioch ...
found in and around living
cells
Cell most often refers to:
* Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life
Cell may also refer to:
Locations
* Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery w ...
, and as such it gives a direct measure of biological concentration and health. ATP is quantified by measuring the light produced through its reaction with the naturally occurring
firefly
The Lampyridae are a family of elateroid beetles with more than 2,000 described species, many of which are light-emitting. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms for their conspicuous production ...
enzyme
luciferase
Luciferase is a generic term for the class of oxidative enzymes that produce bioluminescence, and is usually distinguished from a photoprotein. The name was first used by Raphaël Dubois who invented the words ''luciferin'' and ''luciferase'', ...
using a
luminometer. The amount of light produced is directly proportional to the amount of ATP present in the sample.
ATP tests can be used to:
* Control biological treatment reactors
* Guide
biocide
A biocide is defined in the European legislation as a chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a slig ...
dosing programs
* Determine drinking water cleanliness
* Manage
fermentation
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
processes
* Assess soil activity
* Determine corrosion / deposit process type
* Measure equipment or product sanitation
1st generation testing ''vs''. 2nd generation testing
1st generation ATP tests are derived from
hygiene monitoring uses where samples are relatively free of interferences. 2nd Generation tests are specifically designed for water,
wastewater and industrial applications where, for the most part, samples contain a variety of components that can interfere with the ATP assay.
How ATP is measured
ATP is a molecule found only in and around living cells, and as such it gives a direct measure of biological concentration and health. ATP is quantified by measuring the light produced through its reaction with the naturally-occurring firefly enzyme luciferase using a luminometer. The amount of light produced is directly proportional to the amount of biological energy present in the sample.
Within a water sample containing microorganisms, there are two types of ATP:
*
Intracellular ATP – ATP contained within living biological cells.
*
Extracellular
This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in biology, the study of life and of living organisms. It is intended as introductory material for novices; for more specific and technical definitions ...
ATP – ATP located outside of biological cells that has been released from dead or stressed organisms.
Accurate measurement of these two types of ATP is critical to utilizing ATP-based measurements. Being able to accurately measure these different types of ATP offers the ability to assess biological health and activity, and subsequently control water and
wastewater processes.
See also
*
Adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an organic compound that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, condensate dissolution, and chemical synthesis. Found in all known forms of ...
References
{{reflist, 30em
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article/81/5/729/175086/Development-of-a-Novel-Hygiene-Monitoring-System
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article/85/7/1079/481183/A-Comprehensive-Analysis-of-ATP-Tests-Practical
External links
Efficacy and Limitations of an ATP-Based Monitoring System
Microbiology techniques
Environmental chemistry
Water pollution