What are the cons of ATP bioluminescence assay?

There are various disadvantages of ATP in a bioluminescence assay. One drawback is that the assay does not easily differentiate ATP from microorganisms, plants, and animal cells. Another disadvantage is that it is not very sensitive for spore detection and may cause false-negative results. This is because the quantity of ATP is very low in spores. Another limitation is that luminesce from food may affect the accuracy of ATP bioluminescence measurements. Additionally, the presence of sanitizer, detergents, and other chemicals may alter the readings. ATP bioluminescence assays are also not appropriate substitutes for conventional microbiological analysis. ATP also has a short half life and is quickly degraded by cellular enzymes. So, measurements of ATP must be taken soon after sample collection for accurate results.