[Firefly assay of bacterial ATP: comparative study of extraction methods (author's transl)]

The firefly bioluminescence ATP assay presents multiple applications in microbiological analysis. Nine ATP extraction methods were tested on thirteen Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial species. The DMSO method appears as the procedure for choice. It provides the highest yields and the best reproducibility, even at high bacterial concentrations. It is simple, rapid and can be recommended for routine analysis. Assays carried out after extraction by this procedure show that in 24 hours cultures, the ATP content ranges from 0.28 fg to 15.65 fg per cell depending on species.