Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation
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Evan A. Weitz completed his PhD in organic and analytical chemistry in 2015. His research focused on using the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to test cleaning methods. ATP is found in living cells and emits light when combined with the enzyme luciferase, allowing its presence to indicate if a surface is not free of microbes. Studies have shown ATP bioluminescence can be used to efficiently and frequently assess if hospital surfaces are sufficiently cleaned and determine the effectiveness of cleaning strategies, though it does not replace conventional cleanliness measures.
Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation
- 1. Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation By: Evan A Weitz
- 2. Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation Minnesota resident Evan A. Weitz completed his doctoral program in organic and analytical chemistry in 2015. As a PhD student, Evan A. Weitz co-authored articles related to the detection of adenosine triphosphate, commonly referred to as ATP. While on a basic level students are taught that this molecule is the building block of energy transfer in the human body, research has shown the molecule can be used to help test and refine cleaning methods.
- 3. Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation ATP is a molecule found in all living cells (food, bacteria, yeast, mold). Referred to as ATP bio- luminescence, research has shown that, when the enzyme luciferase comes into contact with ATP, light is emitted, and the amount of light is determined by the amount of ATP present. This is important because the emission of light reveals the presence of microbial species. In other words, the presence of ATP indicates that the surface of an area (table, floor, counter, or seat) is not free of living organisms.
- 4. Using Biochemistry to Ensure Proper Sanitation This research and the technology derived from it stands to benefit the health profession, particularly hospitals. According to one study published in BMC Infectious Diseases in 2018, researchers found an ATP-bioluminescence-assay can be used to determine whether surfaces have been sufficiently cleaned. While the research found that this method of assessing cleanliness does not replace conventional measures, it does allow for an efficient way to assess surface cleanliness more frequently and to determine the efficacy of cleaning strategies.