QuenchGone Organic Modified (QGOM)

The Quench-Gone™ Organic Matter (QGOM) Test Kit measures cellular ATP (cATP) to quantify total living biomass in hydrocarbon-based samples. By providing rapid, reliable insight into microbial growth, it helps you detect contamination early, prevent corrosion and fouling, and protect critical assets in energy and industrial systems.

Key terms

• ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, energy molecule of living cells.
• cATP (cellular ATP): ATP inside living cells, representing active biomass.
• RLU: Relative Light Units, the measurement of luminescence.
• RLU ATP1: Calibration signal from UltraCheck 1.
• RLU cATP: Sample result for cellular ATP.
• Background RLU: Baseline signal measured from Luminase only.
• Volume: Amount of sample filtered (20–50mL).

Sample volume recommendations

1.1 Log in to Relay™

• Log in (or create your account) at http://relay.luminultra.com.

If you are new to Relay™, follow the guides to first create a site and sample location.

• Connect to your luminometer, then select RUN TESTS to begin a new test.
• As you work through these test kit instructions, you can initiate RLU readings directly within Relay™ by selecting READ on any input. Once all inputs are entered, your results will automatically calculate.

1.2 Rehydrate the Luminase enzyme

• Gently mix the Buffer and Luminase enzyme.
• Wait 5 minutes for solution to dissolve.

After rehydration, keep Luminase refrigerated or frozen; it stays effective for 2–4 weeks at 4°C (39°F) or 3–6 months when frozen between uses. Before testing, let it thaw and reach room temperature (takes about 1 hour). Do not apply direct heat to warm it faster. For more details, visit my.luminultra.com.

1.3 Calibration using UltraCheck 1 (RLU ATP1)

• Hold the UltraCheck 1 bottle vertical and add 2 drops (100µL) of it to a 12x55mm test tube.
• Pipet 100µL of Luminase into the tube.
• Swirl the tube, place it in the luminometer, and take the RLU ATP1 reading (select READ) within 10 seconds.

If RLU ATP1 ≤ 5,000 rehydrate a new bottle of Luminase.

Once UltraCheck 1 is opened, it must be used within 3 months. After 3 months, discard and use a new bottle.

2.1 Filtration

• Mix sample well.
• Remove the plunger from a 20mL syringe.
• Attach a new syringe filter.
• Pour the recommended volume of sample into the syringe, and record the amount used as Volume.
• Place the plunger back into the syringe and slowly push sample through the filter into waste receptacle.
• Detach the filter.
• Remove the plunger.

2.2 Washing and drying

• Re-attach the filter to the 20mL syringe barrel.
• Using a disposable bulb pipet, add 5mL of LumiClean to the syringe barrel.
• Push the LumiClean slowly through the filter into a waste container.

• Remove the plunger from a 50mL syringe.
• Detach the filter from the 20mL syringe.
• Attach it to the 50mL syringe.
• Hold the 50mL syringe over the waste receptacle and push the plunger through the barrel to dry the filter.

2.3 Extraction

This step breaks open microbial cells to release ATP.

• Remove the plunger from the 20mL syringe.
• Re-attach the filter to the 20mL syringe barrel.
• Add 1 mL of UltraLyse 7 to the barrel using the 1mL pipettor.
• Pass it slowly through the filter and collect in a new 9mL UltraLute (dilution) tube.
• Cap and invert three times to mix.

2.4 Background measurement

• Add 100µL of the Luminase into a new, clean 12x55mm test tube using the 100µL pipettor and a yellow pipet tip.
• Put this test tube into your luminometer and take the Background RLU reading (select READ).
• This tube can then be used for your first sample assay on the next step (Step 2.5).

If the Background RLU is above 20 RLU, this indicates that some external factors (light, contamination) may be influencing your results. LuminUltra offers cleaning kits for your luminometer. Please contact us to discuss.

2.5 Assay

• Combine 100µL of the UltraLute (dilution) solution (containing your filtered, extracted, and washed sample) with 100µL of Luminase.
  • For the first sample, add the UltraLute (dilution) solution directly to the test tube you used for the Background measurement, using a new pipet tip.
  • For each subsequent sample, add 100µL of UltraLute (dilution) solution and 100µL of Luminase to a new 12x55mm test tube, using new pipet tips for each reagent and each sample.
• Swirl the tube, place it in the luminometer, and take the RLU cATP reading (select READ) within 10 seconds.
• In Relay™, select SAVE TEST.

3. Analysis

Calculations

Tip: Relay™ does the work For you

When all inputs are entered in Relay’s Run tests workflow, the results will calculate automatically. Select Save Test to catalog and share your results with your team.

\mathrm{cATP}\;(\mathrm{pg\ ATP}/\mathrm{mL})
=
\left[
\frac{\mathrm{RLU}_{\mathrm{cATP}}-\mathrm{RLU}_{\mathrm{background}}}
     {\mathrm{RLU}_{\mathrm{ATP1}}}
\right]
\times
\frac{10{,}000\ (\mathrm{pg\ ATP)}}{V_{\mathrm{sample}}\ \mathrm{(mL)}}

Troubleshooting

Additional Resources

myLuminultra:
https://my.luminultra.com

Contact support:
https://my.luminultra.com/hc/en-us/requests/new