A Correlation Study of Surveillance Data and ATP Bioluminescence Assay for Verification of Hygienic Status in Major Hotels in Seoul

Currently food-borne disease is being increased at outdoor food services including hotels and res- taurants. Speedy and convenient practical monitoring techniques to determine hygienic conditions are needed. This study was designed to verify correlation of direct ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) examination method using ATP bioluminescence and surveillance with check-list by inspector. Hygienic status of personal hygiene (hands), kitchen utensils (knives, chopping boards, kitchen towels, cap openers, food storage containers, and blade of slice machines), facilities and equipments (refrigerator handles, worktables, and sinks) in five major hotels in Seoul were examined. The result of personal hygiene of hotels was relatively better than other inspection items (46.6 points in personal hygiene, 40.2 points in kitchen utensils, 40.3 points in facilities & equipments). In ATP inspection, kitchen utensils and facilities & equipments were relatively clean comparing with personal hands data (40.8 ± 6.77 RLU/cm ). After correlation analysis of surveillance in hygienic status points and ATP value, all results showed negative and high cor- relation. The surveillance data and ATP results investigating personal hygiene, kitchen utensils and facilities & equip- ments were highly correlated. The ATP examination method which shows real-time identification could be considered as an appropriate method to alternate current check-list dependent safety management in food services including hotels.