Rapid approach for detection of bacterial spores

A method of reducing bacterial spores or vegetative cells comprising:

• preparing a sample to be tested for the presence of bacterial spores and vegetative cells, the sample taken from a hard surface, a liquid, or a paper product;
• measuring an initial quantity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (ATPoriginal);
• heating the sample to destroy any vegetative cells;
• measuring the quantity of ATP after heating the sample (ATPheat);
• concentrating bacterial spores or vegetative cells in the sample;
• extracting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) from the sample;
• converting AMP and ADP to ATP;
• measuring a final quantity of ATP (ATPconversion),
• wherein the presence of ATP in the ATPoriginal measurement indicates the presence of vegetative cells, a decrease in the ATP from ATPoriginal measurement to ATPheat measurement indicates that the vegetative cells were destroyed by heating, and an increase in ATP concentration from ATPheat measurement to ATPconversion measurement indicates presence of bacterial spores;
• selecting an antimicrobial treatment based upon the presence or absence of bacterial spores, vegetative cells, or both bacterial spores and vegetative cells;
• and
• applying the antimicrobial treatment to the hard surface, the liquid, or the paper product to reduce the bacterial spores, vegetative cells, or both bacterial spores and vegetative cells.