Where Can I Buy ATP Testing Kits for Food Safety?

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

. http://yourhealthmagazine.net

More Weight Control, Nutrition & Exercise Articles

Where Can I Buy ATP Testing Kits for Food Safety?

Complacency is the enemy of food safety. It’s not enough to simply assume cleaning and sanitation methods are achieving desired results — thorough testing is necessary to prove it. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) tests are an unofficial industry standard, but where can you buy ATP testing kits for food safety?

In today’s market, local suppliers are not your only choice. The rise of B2B e-commerce means you have a wider range of options than ever before, but this can also make choosing one difficult. You can narrow your search by starting with these 10 ATP food safety testing kit providers.

1. Charm Sciences

The best place to buy ATP testing kits for food safety is Charm Sciences, which has been serving the industry for over 45 years. Charm offers four different ATP swabs, an extender and a luminometer to meet a wide range of use cases.

As a food safety company, Charm boasts some impressive achievements. None of its customers have ever had to recall a product while actively using its products, suggesting high accuracy and reliability. With services in 128 countries, it also meets many diverse supply chain needs.

Charm Sciences makes it easy to reach out to support or sales teams for any questions you may have. Such attentiveness makes it easier to find a solution that works for you and compare products to alternatives for thorough market research.

2. Bio Shield Tech

Bunnell, Florida-based Bio Shield Tech is another reliable supplier of ATP testing kits for food safety. While it markets itself mainly toward HVAC applications, its ATP tests are a good option for food and beverage manufacturers, too.

Bio Shield Tech sells two complete ATP monitoring kits, as well as several stand-alone swabs and complementary equipment. It does not manufacture these products — it gets all of them from Hygiena — but it is a convenient, consolidated place to order all of them. Free two-day shipping adds to that convenience.

The organization has been in business since 2005, giving it two decades of experience to back up the solutions it sells. An open contact line and an updated blog on its website provide additional help and information if you need to learn more.

3. Sanitation Tools

Another test kit provider to consider is Sanitation Tools, a more general cleaning and sanitation solution marketplace. Instead, it provides a wider range of manufacturers to give you choices when choosing an ATP monitoring package.

Sanitation Tools offers two luminometers, several swabs and additional tools to enable easier usage. Because it takes a broader approach than some alternatives, you can also turn to the site for cleaning supplies and other microbial tests. Consequently, you may find it useful as a one-stop shop for your food safety processes.

The company has a dedicated support line, free ground shipping within the contiguous U.S. and a choice of carriers. Its site is also easy to navigate, working similarly to consumer-facing e-commerce pages.

4. Test Kit Central

You may consider Test Kit Central for a more focused approach. As its name implies, its business model centers exclusively on testing packages, omitting the cleaning supplies that suppliers like Sanitation Tools sell.

Test Kit Central’s range of ATP monitoring solutions is not as broad as some other providers, but the equipment is from leading manufacturers. Its real value comes from all the additional testing kits it supplies. While not every facility needs these resources, having complementary tools can result in more reliable sanitation efforts.

The Michigan-based storefront offers free shipping on all orders, which is ideal when costs are a major concern. Its customer service is not available around the clock, but it is transparent about its hours.

5. EMPACS

Eco-friendly cleaning product purveyor EMPACS is also worth consideration. The company aims to balance sanitation with sustainability, which may make it an ideal partner if your organization is striving to improve its environmental standing.

EMPACS offers several luminometers and ATP swabs from multiple manufacturers to make it easier to find one that suits your needs. Like Sanitation Tools, it also sells cleaning and sanitation products to accompany your testing equipment. Its emphasis on eco-friendliness may make these offerings increasingly valuable to sustainably-minded customers.

The site lets you contact support through both email and phone, though it’s unclear on response times. It also provides flexible ordering options and the option for next-day delivery if you need new materials urgently.

6. Kikkoman Biochemifa

While many facilities prefer to work with domestic suppliers, international options can be valuable, too. Japan’s Kikkoman Biochemifa is one of the best of these choices for buying ATP testing kits for food safety.

As a food manufacturer itself, Kikkoman understands the concerns of food and beverage facilities. It designed its proprietary ATP tests specifically for these purposes, achieving results in as little as 10 seconds to meet the needs of fast-moving manufacturing plants. The tester’s accuracy and sensitivity ratings are also impressive compared to competitors.

Despite its hardware being a leading solution, ordering from Kikkoman Biochemifa can be complicated. You may need to find a third-party service to acquire its products within the U.S., which can introduce delays, higher costs and other supply chain concerns.

7. Hygiena

Another option if you want to shop directly from the maker of your ATP monitoring equipment is Hygiena, which supplies other sites like Bio Shield Tech. The manufacturer has a proven reputation across the industry and provides a variety of tools for all sorts of microbial testing.

Hygiena’s solutions offer multiple testing options and nice-to-have features like Wi-Fi connectivity for greater ease of use. The business also operates several locations worldwide, making it easier to reach and partner with, regardless of your area.

The Hygiena storefront also runs two support lines — one for technical questions and one for order and shipping-related concerns. Shipping is not free like it is at some other sites, and pricing can vary, but buying directly from the manufacturer removes some complications.

8. MilliporeSigma

Life science research company MilliporeSigma also provides ATP testing kits for food safety. The German manufacturer boasts a huge variety of chemical analysis tools and resources to accompany these tests, though you may not need all such products.

MilliporeSigma’s analytical equipment offers high standards of accuracy and sensitivity to ensure reliable results. Detailed product descriptions and shipping estimates add another layer of transparency so you can gain confidence in what you order.

Unlike many other storefronts, MilliporeSigma also runs contract pricing, which can reduce the cost of repeated orders. However, as an international company, higher shipping costs and supply chain disruptions may be more likely.

9. Mediwish

China-based Mediwish is another international manufacturer to consider. It does not offer the same number of ATP testing solutions as other providers, but what it does have is among the most affordable on the market.

While some enterprises are suspicious of Chinese-made products, Mediwish is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified, offering some assurance of its quality. It also promises 24/7 order and payment processing to streamline the supply chain.

Contacting support can be a challenge, given the dramatic difference in time zones. Likewise, shipping costs and timelines are unclear, which may pose barriers when comparing suppliers.

10. PCE Instruments

A final ATP testing supplier that deserves your attention is PCE Instruments, a German-founded but U.S.-based marketplace. PCE makes just one ATP test kit, but its variety of complementary tools and service conveniences make it worthy of consideration.

The proprietary ATP kit comes with a two-year warranty, as well as free shipping and a 30-day return window. PCE also frequently runs promotions, which can reduce costs at the expense of irregular ordering.

Support lines operate in two languages and make it easy to get in touch with a specific person if needed. The product variety may leave something to be desired for some clients, but if all you need is an ATP testing package, PCE is worth a look.

ATP Testing Kit Supplier Comparison

Why You Need an ATP Testing Kit

Regardless of where you buy them, ATP testing kits are crucial for food safety. Foodborne illnesses affect 48 million people in the U.S. annually, sending 128,000 to the hospital. That level of risk is far too high to assume routine cleaning and sanitation practices are still effective.

An ATP test provides hard data on whether a surface is contaminated. Performing such inspections regularly ensures you can catch any instances of contamination before they lead to larger consequences. When tests come back acceptable, you have quantifiable proof that existing systems are working.

The paper trail of formal testing is critical to remaining compliant with relevant regulations. Without such evidence, inspections from the FDA or other departments could result in hefty fines. Regular testing provides a means to verify your compliance and a way to catch and fix noncompliance before it causes bigger issues.

Given such high stakes, choosing a reliable ATP testing kit provider is essential. Any quality deviations or miscommunication can lead to dramatic regulatory, cost and health consequences.

What to Look for in an ATP Testing Kit Provider

As with any piece of equipment, ATP testing kits for food safety can vary widely in quality and reliability. High accuracy ratings are the most obvious factor to look for, but you should also choose devices with high sensitivity. A high-accuracy but low-sensitivity option may still miss instances of microbial contamination that may cause food safety concerns.

Ease of use is also worth considering. Pre- and post-analysis mistakes, which stem from human factors instead of equipment malfunctions, account for 70% of all lab errors, suggesting misuse is the most common cause of inaccurate results. While adequate training is the most important step in addressing these concerns, choosing ATP tests that are easier to use correctly will also help.

Beyond the device itself, you should consider the vendor’s reliability. A lack of transparency over business practices and reviews, no contact options and suspiciously cheap products are all potential red flags. Such signs may suggest you won’t get quality items from the site.

By contrast, look for ATP testing kit suppliers with extensive support options, contact information, strong reviews and clarity regarding their clientele. Detailed product descriptions and quality guarantees are other good signs.

You should also consider practical factors like price, availability, shipping speed and location. More than 90% of U.S. organizations have shifted their sourcing to North American suppliers recently, and such a move can be beneficial. Working with a domestic company shortens shipping times and may reduce related costs, ensuring your testing remains cost-effective.

Uses and Limits of ATP Testing Kits

It’s important to recognize what ATP tests are best at and what they can’t do. All sanitation and testing methods have limits, and understanding those boundaries is key to proper usage.

Overall, ATP testing is ideal when analyzing a surface for bacteria and fungi. In the realm of food safety, that’s particularly important when sanitizing any machinery that comes into contact with raw meat. Its speed is also optimal when checking cleaning practices in a fast-paced environment.

However, ATP tests do not detect viruses, which do not produce ATP. Similarly, they do not show what specifically is causing the contamination, and some chemical cleaners can interfere with its results.

Given these shortcomings, you should use ATP testing alongside other methods to achieve the greatest food safety standards. Using gentle, noninteracting cleaners is also best, as it will ensure more reliable results. Not pinpointing the specific pathogen in question is only an issue if contamination reaches unacceptable limits, at which point, you can perform additional testing to see what new cleaning steps may be necessary.

All in all, ATP testing kits for food safety are an excellent tool for verifying the efficacy of facility cleaning measures. However, any more detailed inspections or particularly high-risk workflows should complement it with additional tests. 

Get Your ATP Testing Kits Today

These 10 sites represent some of the best places where you can buy ATP testing kits for food safety. Start by outlining your specific budget and product needs, and then you can compare these providers to find one that works for you. Partnering with the right ATP test supplier is the first step toward better food and beverage safety.