There are many precautions to note during the use of ATP fluorescence detection swabs, covering aspects such as storage conditions, operation procedures, testing environment, and result interpretation. The following are the specific details:

Temperature Requirements
ATP fluorescence detection swabs generally need to be stored under specific temperature conditions, usually at 2 – 8 °C. High temperatures or freezing should be avoided to prevent the reduction or inactivation of the activity of reagents such as luciferase, which could affect the accuracy of test results.
Dry Storage
Ensure that the swabs are kept in a dry environment. Moisture may cause the reagents to react prematurely or deteriorate. It is recommended to place them in a sealed bag or container and add desiccants.
Transport Precautions
If the swabs need to be transported, professional cold – chain transportation equipment should be used to ensure stable temperature during transportation. Vibration and collision should be avoided to prevent damage to the swabs.

Hand Hygiene
Operators should wash and dry their hands first. If necessary, sterile gloves can be worn to prevent the contamination of the swabs and samples by microorganisms or other impurities on the hands.
Integrity Inspection
Carefully check whether the packaging of the swab is intact before use. Check if the swab head is detached or damaged, and if there are any abnormal conditions such as reagent leakage or discoloration. If there are problems, the swab should be discarded.
Understanding of Sample Types
Clearly identify the nature and source of the sample to be tested. Different types of samples may require different collection and processing methods. For example, the collection methods for food surfaces and medical device surfaces may vary.

Collection Site
Accurately select the collection site according to the test purpose to ensure that a representative sample is collected. For environmental surface testing, key areas prone to microbial growth or possible contamination should be selected.
Collection Force
Pay attention to applying moderate force during collection. Ensure that the swab head fully contacts the sample surface to obtain sufficient microorganisms, but do not use excessive force to avoid damaging the swab head or over – diluting the sample.
Avoid Cross – contamination
One swab should only be used for collecting one sample and should not be reused. Replace the swab when collecting different samples to prevent cross – contamination between samples.

Reagent Addition
Add reagents accurately according to the instructions, ensuring the correct dosage and addition sequence of the reagents. Avoid the contamination of reagents by contact with other substances during the addition process.
Reaction Time and Temperature
Strictly control the reaction time and temperature. Different brands of swabs may have different requirements. Generally, the reaction time is 1 – 5 minutes, and the temperature is around 25 – 37 °C. A constant – temperature device or water bath should be used to ensure temperature stability.
Calibration of Testing Instrument
Calibrate and perform quality control on the fluorescence detector before use to ensure accurate measurement. Regularly maintain and inspect the instrument to prevent instrument malfunctions from affecting test results.

Reference Standards
Interpret the results according to the detection system used and industry standards. Different application scenarios may have different passing standards. For example, the microbial limit standards for the food industry and the medical industry are different.
Time Limit
Read the results within the specified time. The fluorescence signal may change over time, and reading the results beyond the specified time may lead to inaccurate results.
Handling of Abnormal Results
If the test results are abnormal, such as excessively high or low fluorescence intensity, inconsistent with expectations, re – collect samples for testing and check whether there are problems in the operation process and equipment.