Japan Kikkoman® ATP Bacteria Testing

"Rapid Hygiene Monitoring" is employed for testing employees' hands or food processing equipment and facilities to ensure that adequate cleanliness is being maintained. These tests are extremely important in preventing cross-contamination, incidents which allegedly said to account for 60% of food poisoning in Japan. Kikkoman's Rapid Hygiene Monitoring Systems use the ATP + AMP swab test method. The test area is wiped using the reagent kit LuciPac, which combine a reagent and self-contained swab device, after which light is emitted as a result of chemical reaction between luciferase-luciferin-PPDK reagent and ATP and/or AMP. The level of luminescence is measured using the LUMITESTER measuring instrument, and the degree of cleanliness is determined based on the amount of ATP plus AMP detected. The degree of contamination is immediately shown as a numerical output, enabling a process of "check and take action" that is not possible using traditional culture methods, and thus allow accidents to be prevented before they occur.