APPLICATION OF ATP ANALYSIS FOR RAPID SCREENING OF VIABLE MICROBES IN THE COURSE OF DIALYSIS WATER PRODUCTION PROCESS

Abstract

 Applicability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay for rapid screening of viable microbes in raw water and in the course of dialysis water production process was examined in this study. Samples were collected from Hospital A, where water for medical care was supplied by both public water supply and private water supply from groundwater. Viable microbes were robustly detected when ATP exceeded 5x10^-13 [mol/L] , however, there was not significant correlation between total viable microbial count (TVC) and ATP. Twenty-fold concentration of the samples could increase detection sensitivity of ATP except for dialysis fluid. The ATP assay would be considered as complementary to conventional TVC monitoring in terms of rapid screening of the presence of viable microbial contamination for ensuring microbial safety of dialysis water on a daily basis.