|
ATP & Legionella TestingA Dangerous Myth
The myth is that the ATP method can be used to warrant a system to be free of Legionella bacteria or it can be used to make inferences regarding a Legionella condition.
The ATP method may lead some users of ATP systems to claim that a tower with low ATP measurements contains little or no Legionella. The "ATP & Legionella Myth", may have started from the fact that all organisms, including Legionella, contain ATP. Therefore, if a method measures ATP, and there is no ATP which is measurable or detected, the system has no Legionella.
In our view, the ATP method is best as a direct measure of general fouling. This is based on the correlation that systems at certain levels of ATP and at certain levels of ATP can be used as a direct index to show that a test sample or production operation is relatively free from organic deposit formation or it will likely develop organic deposits, which in turn may have negative consequences for the process or material composition being tested. The ATP method has no place in the assessment of Legionella.
Highly reputable companies offer contract Legionella detection services based on plate growth. AMSA, Inc. does not offer Legionella testing, consulting, or advice on Legionella testing.
AMSA, Inc. turns to Dr. Janet Stout, http://www.legionella.org/janet_stout.htm as a key contact for the regarding Legionella along with Pathcon Labs; http://www.pathcon.com/.
For some more basic information about ATP, please check out the following links:
|
|
|
|
||