Several varieties of breathalyzers are on the market for both public and private use. Police departments commonly utilize these devices to check whether or not a driver has been drinking alcoholic beverages. These breath tests measure the true amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.
However, these breath tests are conducted under certain assumptions—such as ideal testing conditions and testing subjects of perfect health. While the best testing practices may be utilized, unreliable results can still be produced. Let’s take a closer look at the top factors that impact breathalyzer accuracy.
Medical Conditions and Diseases
A variety of medical conditions can inflate breath test results from a breathalyzer by artificial means, which can be considerably problematic. If a test subject has diabetes, their body naturally produces a higher level of enzymes which can read as ethyl alcohol on these kinds of tests. Likewise, if an individual has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), consumed alcohol may move from their stomach back into their throat. Because of this, an individual with this condition could register a higher and inaccurate BAC reading.
Human Error and Consistency
One of the factors that impact breathalyzer accuracy and that can lead to flawed test results is plain old human error. Anything can happen. Mistakes can happen every day in a wide array of situations. Test enforcers should be aware of their testing methods and their thorough process in order to yield reliable results.
Officers or test enforcers should thus administer several tests for more accurate readings. Just like temperature readings are not typically taken just once, multiple breathalyzer tests should be given to avoid test reading errors. Despite the overall ease of breathalyzer tests, attention to detail remains paramount. It’s not an exact science.
Software and Calibration
Breathalyzers are testing devices run on a particular kind of operating system. Occasional glitches in the software can occur. The complex devices also must be calibrated regularly. Calibration before each use will ensure the breathalyzer is working as correctly and efficiently as possible.
American Screening Corp is a top supplier of quality alcohol testing kits as well as a variety of commonly manufactured breathalyzers used nationwide. These breathalyzers need the proper calibration and full consideration of the above factors in order to best provide and main accurate results. If you have any questions about our testing products, give us a call today.
