Determination of sterilization effectiveness by measuring bacterial growth in a biological indicator through firefly luciferase determination of ATP

Abstract

A bioluminescence procedure for measurement of microbial ATP allows a rapid determination of the effectiveness of autoclave sterilization. This determination is achieved faster than detection of acid production in a biological indicator via a pH indicator. Bacterial outgrowth from spores on test strips of the biological indicator was detected by measurement of ATP using the firefly luciferase reaction. A measureable increase in ATP was found after 5 hours of incubation of a biological indicator that had been treated under sterilizing conditions that produced 75% sterility of the biological indicator as measured by acid production. This is a marked improvement over the 24-48 hours of incubation currently required.