Abstract:
A method of testing for sanitization of textiles comprises the steps of cleaning textiles in a water solution and testing the water solution for the presence of contaminants such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), typically with a luminometer. Typically, the water solution will be drained from a cleaning vessel and tested. Another option is the testing of the water solution extracted after draining such as by a spin cycle. The method provides improved accuracy of test results as to the level of cleanliness. In addition, testing at this early step of the laundering process allows for additional cleaning if needed without having undertaken costly and time-consuming steps such as drying. Moreover, absent re-contamination of the textiles after the cleaning process, drying and finishing procedures may be accomplished without further sanitizing the textiles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to the laundering of textiles. More particularly, the invention relates to the insurance of an acceptable level of cleanliness of the textiles. Specifically, the invention relates to the testing of the water solution in which the textiles are cleaned for the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). 
     2. Background Information 
     In the field of industrial laundering, there is a need to ensure that textiles which are laundered meet certain standards of cleanliness. Of particular concern is the amount of bacteria on the laundered textiles although the amount of other contaminants is also important. Testing for the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a useful indicator of various contaminants including bacteria because ATP delivers energy to all living organisms and is found in organisms both living and dead. 
     One of the current primary test methods involves the direct testing of textiles which have been laundered and dried. In particular, test procedures have been developed which utilize a swab rubbed directly on textiles in order to obtain a test sample of ATP therefrom. A luminometer is then used to quickly analyze the concentration or amount of ATP on the swab. A test kit using such a swab is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,395 granted to Skiffington et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. This test method provides rapid results and thus is a great advantage over the relatively slow process of bacterial colony growth, which usually takes about two days and is obviously not suitable for the purposes of testing laundered textiles. 
     While such swabbing methods are very convenient, they nonetheless have some drawbacks. One disadvantage is that the testing occurs after the textiles have been dried. Thus, if a given piece or batch of textiles must be re-washed due to an unacceptable ATP level which remained after laundering, that piece or batch of textiles will have already undergone the costly and time consuming step of drying. In addition, the swab testing of a given textile may produce different results depending on where the textile is swabbed. More particularly, a given textile may have been heavily soiled in one area and lightly soiled in another area so that even after laundering, the area which was heavily soiled may retain a greater degree of contamination. In addition, in order to obtain a suitable sample size which is likely to be representative of a large batch of textiles, a fairly large number of textiles must be individually tested in the present swabbing method to minimize concerns related to random sampling. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a test for sanitation of textiles at an earlier stage of the laundering process while minimizing the number of tests performed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method comprising the steps of cleaning textiles with a water solution whereby the water solution becomes used; and testing the used water solution for the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). 
     The present invention also provides a method comprising the steps of cleaning textiles with a water solution whereby the water solution becomes used; and testing the used water solution to determine a level of contaminants therein in no more than 15 minutes. 
     The present invention further provides a method comprising the steps of cleaning textiles with a water solution in a cleaning vessel whereby the water solution becomes used; and testing the used water solution to determine a level of contaminants therein while the textiles remain in the cleaning vessel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a washing machine and a testing device for testing the water solution drained from within the washing machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the testing device. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1  and shows additional water solution being extracted from the drained textiles and the testing of the extracted water solution. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A first method of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1-2 ; and a second method is described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Generally, the methods of the present invention are used to ensure the sanitation or cleanliness of laundered textiles. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cleaning device in the form of a washing machine or washer  10  having a cleaning vessel in the form of a rotatable drum  12  which defines a washer compartment therein in which laundry or textiles  14  may be placed for washing in a water solution  16  which may contain various detergents and chemicals suitable to promote the cleaning of textiles  14 . Textiles  14  may be made up of various textiles such as aprons, butcher coats, sheets, towels, surgical garments, napkins, various other types of uniforms, linens, and so forth. A container or catch vessel  18  is disposed below washer  10  to catch the soiled or dirty water solution  16  which is drained (arrow A) from washer  10  subsequent to the washing or laundering of textiles  14 . Vessel  18  is initially free of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) prior to catching the soiled water solution  16 , commonly known as sour drain. 
     Washing textiles  14  in washer  10  is not the only method or device for cleaning textiles  14 , and the process shown in the figures is meant to represent the cleaning of textiles by any method using a water solution. For example, dry cleaning utilizes a water solution having dry cleaning chemicals therein to achieve the cleaning process. The present test method may be used to test the used water solution from the dry cleaning process as well. In addition, newly manufactured textiles are typically cleaned by dipping them in a cleaning solution at the manufacturing textile mill. At least the final solution used in this cleaning process involves a water solution which may also be tested by the present method. 
     An ATP tester  20  is used to test the drained solution  16 . In the exemplary embodiment, tester  20  includes a luminometer  22 , a sample cylinder  24  and a swab  26  which is removably insertable into cylinder  24  and held by handle  27 . Depending on the specific test, the cylinder and/or swab may be inserted into the luminometer  22 , or, for instance, a portion of cylinder  24  may be inserted into luminometer  22 . One such tester is described in the afore mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,395, which as previously mentioned is incorporated herein by reference. Such testing devices are sold by Charm Sciences, Inc. of Malden Mass. under the names POCKETSWAB® Plus, WATERGIENE® and ALLERGIENE®. Another portable swab-type device used in an ATP bioluminescent test is sold under the name LIGHTNING® by Idexx Laboratories, Inc. of Westbrook, Me. 
     These swab-type devices typically have a pre-moistened swab for gathering a test sample which is mixed within a tube such as cylinder  24  with a buffer solution and luciferin-luciferase test reagents which provides for bioluminescence which is read by the luminometer in relative light units (RLU). The POCKETSWAB® device utilizes a buffer to facilitate the rapid release of ATP from any organic source including micro-organisms and a neutralizer buffer for optimizing the luciferin-luciferase reaction. 
     Various other ATP tests are also available. Other bioluminescent ATP tests include one which is described in “The Handbook of ATP-Hygiene Monitoring” by Bio-Orbit Oy of Turku, Finland; and one known as the Charm ABC Swab Test sold by the above referenced Charm Sciences, Inc. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , swab  26  is dipped in or otherwise wetted by the drained water solution  16 , reinserted into cylinder  24  and mixed with the appropriate buffer solution and luciferin-luciferase reagents in order to provide the bioluminescence which is then measured by luminometer  22 .  FIG. 2  shows that luminometer  22  has a display  28  on which is displayed a specific read out or result  30  of the ATP detected from swab  26 , measured in RLU&#39;s. Once the sample is placed in luminometer  22 , it takes only about five seconds to obtain result  30 . A predetermined acceptable level of ATP is typically stored within luminometer  22  and compared with result  30  so that luminometer  22  may also display a pass or fail indication. 
     If the ATP level is below the acceptable predetermined value, textiles  14  are then removed from washer  10  and dried in a dryer typically heated by a gas or electric heat source. This may be followed by various finishing steps, such as ironing, pressing, steaming such as through a steam tunnel, and the hanging of textiles such as garments on hangers and enclosure of the textiles within bags, boxes or the like. Preferably, no additional sanitizing steps are required after removing the textiles from the washer, as detailed further below. 
     However, if the ATP level is greater than the acceptable value, textiles  14  will be re-washed or otherwise additionally cleaned and retested in the same manner until the test result is within an acceptable range. Typically, textiles  14  go through multiple cleaning or washing cycles which include washing, draining, rinsing and possibly extraction by centrifuge or the spinning of drum  12  at relatively high speeds. Based on previous testing and general knowledge within the field, personnel within the field of laundering may already know that for a given type of textiles, it will take a certain number of washes and rinses in order to approach the degree of sanitation desired. Thus, a given load of textiles may be washed and rinsed more than once and often many times before the drain water solution is tested for ATP. Because the various types of tests used in the present invention are relatively quick, generally taking no more than five or ten minutes and potentially even less, the testing of the drained water solution will normally be done while the textiles remain in the washer. Preferably, the testing period takes no more than 15 minutes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second method of testing is described. The second method is very similar to the first method except that the water solution which is tested is that which is extracted from textiles  14  after the standard drain of solution  16  by gravity and/or pumping thereof. More particularly, drum  12  goes through a spinning cycle, or is rotated at relatively high speeds in order to extract additional water solution  16  from textiles  14  via a centrifuge effect or centrifugal force. Rotation of drum  12  is shown at arrows B and the extracted solution is indicated at arrow C. The extracted solution  16  is then drained into vessel  18  and tested in the same manner as described above. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison of Test Locations 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Test Location 
                 Dry Soiled Textile 
                 Test Vessel 
                 Washer Drain 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 ATP (RLU) 
                 173,387 
                 835,793 
                 5,444,266 
               
               
                 Hach Test Kit 
                 &lt;100 
                 100,000 
                 1,000,000 
               
               
                 (CFU) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Table 1 Notes: 
               
               
                 1. The “dry soiled textile” test was performed prior to being washed; the “test vessel” test was of soiled water solution extracted from a textile which was placed in a water solution in a vessel and stirred or slightly agitated; and the “washer drain” test was a test of soiled water solution drained from the washer in which the textile was washed, the latter being indicative of a high degree of agitation. 
               
               
                 2. All ATP results from a swab method with readings from a NOVALUM ® luminometer. 
               
               
                 3. Hach Test Kit readings were taken after 48 hours of bacterial growth and reported as colony-forming units (CFU). In particular, the tests were done with a Hach Paddle Tester, Total Aerobic Bacteria/Disinfection Control Test Kit sold by the Hach Company of Loveland, CO. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Table 1 primarily shows that the test of the dry soiled textile is generally inaccurate and thus may be misleading. As will be appreciated, even when the test of the dry textile is performed with a pre-moistened swab, the testing of the textile directly, especially when dry, is essentially a surface test which will not indicate the level of ATP or various contaminants further entrapped within the fibers of the cloth. The “test vessel” test shows that even a small degree of agitation of the dirty textile in a water solution allows various contaminants to be released or extracted therefrom to a notably greater degree than possible from the swabbing of the dry soiled textile. The soiled washer drain solution shows a far greater amount of ATP which is in keeping with the ability of the high-agitation washer to strip all sorts of contaminants from the fabric via mechanical action, solubility in water and/or the entrainment of the contaminants in the water solution. 
     The results from the Hach test kit provide a similar comparison. In addition, the test results from the Hach test kit indicate that the dry soiled textile may actually be within an acceptable range of sanitation which would be expected only subsequent to the textile being washed. The results from Table 1 thus emphasize the need for a test which better establishes a more accurate reading of the ATP level in the textiles. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 ATP Test Results of Various Textile Types 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Max. 
                   
                   
                 Sour 
                 Wet 
               
               
                   
                 Capacity 
                   
                   
                 Drain 
                 Textile 
               
               
                   
                 (lbs. clean 
                 Textile 
                 No. of 
                 Test 
                 Test 
               
               
                 Washer 
                 dry cotton) 
                 Type 
                 Steps 
                 (RLU) 
                 (RLU) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 #1 
                 450 
                 white 
                 21 
                 39624 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                   
                 industrial 
               
               
                 #2 
                 450 
                 65/35 
                 17 
                  9510 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 shirts 
               
               
                 #3 
                 600 
                 colored 
                 15 
                 40000 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cotton 
               
               
                 #4 
                 600 
                 65/35 
                 13 
                 18034 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                   
                 pants 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Table 2 Notes: 
               
               
                 1. The term “65/35” stands for 65% polyester and 35% cotton; typically, the white industrial textile type is of a 65/35 blend. 
               
               
                 2. The number of steps typically includes a combination of washing, draining, rinsing and spinning in various orders depending on the textile type. 
               
               
                 3. Tests performed via POCKETSWAB ® Plus method with readings provided by a NOVALUM ® luminometer. 
               
               
                 4. In the sour drain test, the swab was wetted with the soiled water solution drained from the washer after the final step indicated in the number of steps column. 
               
               
                 5. In the wet textile test, the swab was rubbed on the wet textile which was still wet with the water solution of the wash after the final step of washing. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As Table 2 shows with reference to the POCKETSWAB® Plus test, even when the sour drain test gave an ATP reading of 40,000 RLU, the test of the wet textile gave an ATP reading of 0 RLU. This further emphasizes the difficulty of obtaining an accurate result concerning the level of contaminants via the direct swabbing of a textile. 
     If the textiles are sufficiently clean at the end of the washing or other cleaning process, there is no need, absent any re-contamination of textiles, for additional sanitizing steps thereafter. This is the most preferred condition of the textiles subsequent to washing or other cleaning in order to eliminate these additional sanitizing steps which may be relatively costly. Thus, it is preferred to maintain the textiles in a sanitary condition during the process of drying and all of the finishing steps and delivery to the customer or user of the textiles without additional sanitization. 
     Applicant&#39;s method of ATP testing thus provides a more accurate indicator of the level of ATP and associated bacteria of laundered textiles than do tests based on the direct swabbing of the textile. In addition, the textiles are tested for ATP at an earlier stage of the laundering process which can avoid the unnecessary repetition of various steps of the laundering process. Moreover, the present method may eliminate the need for sanitizing procedures subsequent to the washing or other cleaning process while maintaining a level of sanitation equal to or better than that of the prior art methods. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.