Detecting micro-organisms in an electrocoating process

A method, comprising:

• providing a continuous electrocoating operation, wherein the electrocoating operation comprises a plurality of process areas comprising an electrocoat material, wherein the process areas comprise a first process area and at least one other process area, and wherein the at least one process areas is adjacently situated to the first process area;
• taking a first sample of electrocoat material from the first process area and determining with a luminometer a level of microorganisms in the first process area, wherein the luminometer measures illumination emitted from ATP in a population of microorganisms in the first sample, and wherein the level of microorganisms in the first sample is determined in less than 1 hour;
• taking at least one second sample of electrocoat material from the at least one other process area and determining with a luminometer a level of microorganisms in the at least one other process area, wherein the luminometer measures illumination emitted from ATP in a population of microorganisms in the second sample, and wherein the level of microorganisms in the second sample is determined in less than 1 hour;
• comparing the level of microorganisms in the first sample to the level of microorganisms in the second sample(s) until a source of microorganism growth in the electrocoating operation is identified;
• and
• treating the source of microorganism growth,