Breath tests

• Author: Don Bartell/Mary Catherine McMurray/Anne ImObersteg
• Pages: 291-336

11-1

CHAPTER 11

BREATH TESTS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. History and Advantages

§11:01 Early Studies of Breath Testing

§11:02 NHTSA Standards

§11:03 Advantages of Breath Testing

§11:04 Outside Factors Affect Breath Testing

B. Physiology

§11:10 The Breathing Process

§11:11 Ventilation

§11:12 Perfusion

§11:13 Henry’s Law

§11:14 Introduction to Breath Testing Technology

C. Screening Test Devices: Scientif‌ic Principles

§11:20 Types of Screening Test Devices

§11:21 Differences Between IR and EC Technology

§11:22 Advantages of Screening Test Devices

§11:23 Disadvantages of Screening Test Devices

§11:24 Electrochemical (EC) Devices

§11:25 The Science of Fuel Cells

§11:26 Semiconductor (SC) Devices

§11:27 Infrared (IR) Technology

§11:28 IR Machine Limitations

§11:29 Tyndall Effect in IR Machines

II. FACTORS AFFECTING BREATH ALCOHOL MEASUREMENTS

A. Human/Physiological Factors

1. The Breathing Process

§11:40 Phase of Exhalation

§11:41 Rebreathing and Breathing Ambient Air

§11:42 Breath and Body Temperature

§11:43 Breathing Technique

2. Substances in the Mouth

§11:50 Tongue Piercing and Dental Work

§11:51 Asthma Inhalers

BREATH TESTS

Attacking and Defending Drunk Driving Tests 11-2

BREATH TESTS

§11:52 Breath Spray and Mouthwashes

§11:53 Food and “Alcohol-Free” Beer

3. Medical Conditions

§11:60 General Points

§11:61 Gastroesophageal Ref‌lux Disease (GERD)

§11:62 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

§11:63 Diabetes

4. Other Factors

§11:70 Phase of Ethanol Metabolism; Post Absorptive State

§11:71 Hematocrit

§11:72 Vasoconstriction

§11:73 Mouth Alcohol/Regurgitation

§11:74 Vital Capacity

B. Instrument Factors

§11:80 The Breath to Blood 2100:1 Conversion

§11:81 RFI/Electromagnetic Interference

§11:82 Specif‌icity

§11:83 Acetone

§11:84 Diethyl Ether

§11:85 Acetaldehyde

§11:86 Methanol, Isopropanol and Other Alcohols

§11:87 Toluene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) and Xylene

§11:88 Gasoline

§11:89 Paint and Solvents

§11:90 Machine Precision and Accuracy

C. Administrative Factors

§11:100 Safeguards Are Critical

§11:101 The 15-20 Minute Deprivation Period

§11:102 Use of a Truncated Result

§11:103 Use of Only One Specimen/Duplicate Specimens

§11:104 Use of a Blank

§11:105 Operator Training

III. MACHINE CHARACTERISTICS

A. Types of Machines

§11:110 Overview

§11:111 Alco-Sensor®, RBT and FST

§11:112 Intoximeter® EC/IR and EC/IR II

§11:113 Dräger Alcotest® 7110 MKIII-C and Dräger Alcotest® 9510

§11:114 Dräger Alcotest® 7410 Plus

§11:114.1 Dräger Alcotest® 7510

§11:114.2 Operating the Dräger Alcotest® 7510

§11:115 Intoxilyzer 5000, 8000, 9000

§11:116 BAC DataMaster and DataMaster CDM and DataMaster DMT

§11:117 Miscellaneous Devices

B. Common Machine Issues

§11:120 Capturing Breath Specimens

§11:121 Simulators, Simulator Solutions and Standard Gases

§11:122 Scientists’ Checklist

11-3 Breath Tests §11:10

BREATH TESTS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. History and Advantages

§11:01 Early Studies of Breath Testing

The study of human breath originated in the classic

studies of French chemist Antoine Lavoisier conducted



22, Lavoisier’s



 

   



 

 

  



  









Early versions of quantitative breath testing

® -

alyzer®®



    -

 

 



§11:02 NHTSA Standards

     

 

  

devices which met the Federally mandated criteria.



 







  

listed those machines that conformed to the model



to using devices listed as meeting the Federal criteria,

though most states continue to limit their consideration



  

changed the levels at which the machines were evalu-

 





included low molecular weight alcohol such as meth-



The latest list includes several machines that have





  





§11:03 Advantages of Breath Testing

Although breath alcohol analysis is an indirect

method of determining blood alcohol concentration, it



of blood. This is mainly because breath alcohol testing

has these advantages over blood testing:

• It has a lower cost to the user agency.

 -

ate results.

• It is less invasive than drawing blood.

§11:04 Outside Factors

Affect Breath Testing

 -

 



-

 

 



The diligent scientist must evaluate factors such as



in the calculation of a whole blood concentration of

ethanol from the quantity found in breath.



  



 

 

 

All three factors must be considered for a forensic

  





B. Physiology

§11:10 The Breathing Process

Air enters and exits the human body through the

     

and bronchi, the non-cartilaginous bronchioles and