Which marker is applied to high-touch surfaces prior to room cleaning to indicate soil removal?

• A. ATP bioluminescence is applied to high-touch surfaces prior to room cleaning. These bioluminescent markers dry transparent, resist abrasion, and indicate whether a physical substance has been removed.
• B. Fluorescent gels are applied to high-touch surfaces after room cleaning. These gel markers dry transparent, resist abrasion, and indicate whether a physical substance has been removed.
• C. Fluorescent gels are applied to high-touch surfaces prior to room cleaning. These gel markers dry transparent, resist abrasion, and indicate whether a physical substance has been removed.
• D. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence is used to test surfaces before cleaning.

Answer: (C)

Fluorescent gels applied before cleaning are used to verify soil removal on high-touch surfaces. They dry clear and resist abrasion, so they stay in place as cleaning is performed. After cleaning, surfaces are examined under UV light; areas where the gel has been removed indicate that soil was effectively removed, while any remaining gel shows spots that may not have been cleaned thoroughly. This direct visual cue helps assess whether the cleaning process actually removed soil from the surface. ATP-based methods detect residual organic material after cleaning and don’t provide a pre-clean visual marker of soil removal, and applying gels after cleaning wouldn’t test the removal process itself.