DUI Essentials Breathalyzers- Accurate or Not?
In most states, if you are ever pulled over for a suspected DUI and asked to take a breathalyzer test (a now-generic name for any device used to estimate alcohol concentration from one's breath) you can have your license suspended for refusing. It should be made clearer to the public, however, that these devices carry with them a certain level of error, especially considering the devastating effects that a false DUI conviction can have on a person's life.
Breathalyzers do not measure alcohol concentration directly, as does a blood test. Rather, they test for alcohol levels indirectly, by analyzing the chemical components in the breath of a suspected drunk-driver.
One problem then, is it really identifying alcohol and properly measuring the concentration? Most machines detect and measure ethyl compounds in the mouth and assume these compounds to be alcohol. False positives can be produced, especially in older breathalyzer models, when chemicals with similar structures of ethyl alcohol are mistakenly identified as alcohol.
There have been cases of people who have absorbed the fumes of paints or gasoline, such as painting a room over a day, and gotten a false positive. There have also been studies that have shown that the the yeast in bread and smoke from cigarrettes are more likely to exaggerate results.
Some studies have shown that diabetics have triggered false positives because of their acetone levels which is a result of their low blood sugar. Dieters and fasters have faced similar results. Some of these problems have been alleviated because of newer models of the breathalyzers, but no machine yet has proven failsafe.
More problems arise due to the timing of testing. Testing a driver suspected of DUI too early can lead to a false result. The body needs time to absorb alcohol, and during this time of absorption, the blood alcohol content (BAC) can be much higher in the arterial blood than in the venous.
In other words, if a person is given a breathalyzer test during this period, where there is no uniformity in the distribution of alcohol, their arterial blood (what is being used by the lungs, and what is being read by the test) has a much higher BAC than the rest of the body. This can be countered by taking a blood test that draws from venous blood.
Being convicted of a DUI can be a devastating life event. It's important to know that the breathalyzer isn't perfect, and if at all possible if you believe the results to be false ask for a more accurate blood test.
A qualified DUI attorney can help someone determine whether or not their breathalyzer results are accurate and were obtained in a legal manner. Important decisions rest on the results of such tests, so it is equally as important to question their validity and accuracy.
Breathalyzers do not measure alcohol concentration directly, as does a blood test. Rather, they test for alcohol levels indirectly, by analyzing the chemical components in the breath of a suspected drunk-driver.
One problem then, is it really identifying alcohol and properly measuring the concentration? Most machines detect and measure ethyl compounds in the mouth and assume these compounds to be alcohol. False positives can be produced, especially in older breathalyzer models, when chemicals with similar structures of ethyl alcohol are mistakenly identified as alcohol.
There have been cases of people who have absorbed the fumes of paints or gasoline, such as painting a room over a day, and gotten a false positive. There have also been studies that have shown that the the yeast in bread and smoke from cigarrettes are more likely to exaggerate results.
Some studies have shown that diabetics have triggered false positives because of their acetone levels which is a result of their low blood sugar. Dieters and fasters have faced similar results. Some of these problems have been alleviated because of newer models of the breathalyzers, but no machine yet has proven failsafe.
More problems arise due to the timing of testing. Testing a driver suspected of DUI too early can lead to a false result. The body needs time to absorb alcohol, and during this time of absorption, the blood alcohol content (BAC) can be much higher in the arterial blood than in the venous.
In other words, if a person is given a breathalyzer test during this period, where there is no uniformity in the distribution of alcohol, their arterial blood (what is being used by the lungs, and what is being read by the test) has a much higher BAC than the rest of the body. This can be countered by taking a blood test that draws from venous blood.
Being convicted of a DUI can be a devastating life event. It's important to know that the breathalyzer isn't perfect, and if at all possible if you believe the results to be false ask for a more accurate blood test.
A qualified DUI attorney can help someone determine whether or not their breathalyzer results are accurate and were obtained in a legal manner. Important decisions rest on the results of such tests, so it is equally as important to question their validity and accuracy.
Article Source: http://www.medicalsupportforum.com