Blood alcohol concentration and widmark calculations

• Author: Don Bartell/Mary Catherine McMurray/Anne ImObersteg
• Pages: 261-274

9-1

CHAPTER 9

BLOOD ALCOHOL

CONCENTRATION AND

WIDMARK CALCULATIONS

I. GENERAL POINTS

§9:01 Mathematical Formulas Estimate BAC

§9:02 Measurement Conversions for Blood Alcohol Concentration

§9:03 Measurement of Dosage Units

§9:04 Calculating BAC by Field Sobriety Tests

II. PREDICTING BAC WITH WIDMARK

A. The Widmark Formula

§9:10 The Need for Widmark Calculations

§9:11 Widmark and His Equation

§9:12 The Formula

§9:13 The b (Beta) Factor

§9:14 The “r” Factor

§9:15 The Effect of BMI on the “r” Factor

B. Using Widmark in Cases

§9:20 Questions That Experts Are Frequently Asked

§9:21 Example 1: Maximum BAC

§9:22 Example 2: Maximum BAC Over Certain Time

§9:23 Example 3: BAC at a Future Time

§9:24 Example 4: BAC at Time of Driving

C. Problems Encountered in Calculations

§9:30 Experts Must Maximize Reliability

§9:31 Failure to Consider Variables

§9:32 Changes in “r”

§9:33 Changes in Absorption Rate

§9:34 Changes in Elimination Rate (Widmark b)

BLOOD ALCOHOL

CONCENTRATION AND

WIDMARK CALCULATIONS