S30: The Evolution of the Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Assay for Industrial Applications

Since its initial development in the mid-20^th   century, there has been great interest in the use of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) assays for a multitude of applications.  As a direct molecular technique to estimate biomass, it is different from traditional microbiological monitoring tools such as microscopic examination and culture-based testing.  These differences include the timeframe with which results are obtained, the objectiveness of these results, and the nature of the information that is returned as part of the analysis.  Subsequently, certain industrial applications have more broadly adopted methods for measuring ATP into their microbiological testing toolkits. 

 

This presentation will discuss the history of the ATP test along with all of the possible applications to which it could apply.  We will then discuss the applications in which it has been broadly accepted and attempt to analyze the reasons for this acceptance while also presenting a comparison of ATP testing to other microbiological monitoring tools.  Finally, historical challenges to the successful application of the ATP test will be discussed alongside recent advances in the technology.