Question: How do I set my Pass and Fail thresholds for my ATP program?

Answer: When using the general guideline setting for the SystemSURE II luminometer, readings less than 10 indicate that the surface is considered clean. Readings between 11-29 indicate a warning that the surface has not been adequately clean. If the reading is greater than 30 the surface is considered dirty. Hygiena recommends that a facility determine its own RLU thresholds according to the standards of the facility. Thresholds can very from test point to test point based off of product being run on surfaces and types of surfaces.

1. Identify control points and critical control points.
2. Clean product surfaces.
3. Conduct ATP Hygiene Monitoring tests at several locations and over several days to give 20-50 results. Calculate the average and standard deviation (s.d) for the RLU values.
4. Set limits as:
   
       Pass <= Mean RLU
       Caution >= Mean RLU < Mean + 3 (s.d)
       Fail >= Mean RLU + 3 (s.d)
   
       Pass 0 - 10 RLU
       Caution 11 - 29 RLU
       Fail > 30 RLU
   
   
5. Monitor results and assess trends. Recalculation regularly to optimise limits and improve standards.

Click here to see an example of how to calculate the Standard Deviation and thresholds.

1. Identify control points and critical control points.
2. Clean product surfaces thoroughly, even 2 or more times to achieve the best possible level of cleanliness.
3. Conduct ATP Hygiene Monitoring tests at each location, using 5-10 test replicates.
4. Calculate the average RLU which is considered to be the pass level.
5. Fail limits are determined by multiplying the Pass level by 2 or 3 fold.
6. Caution is the region between Pass - Fail limits.

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