Section 81 Fuel-Cell Machines

• Library: DWI Experts and the Science of Chemical Tests 2014

The fuel-cell detector is not specific for ethanol. It gives a response to methanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, and acetaldehyde but is insensitive to acetone. Alan W. Jones, Evaluation of Breath-Alcohol Instruments. III. Controlled Field Trial With Alcolmeter Pocket Model, 28 FORENSIC SCI. INT’L 147 (1985).

This means diabetics and those on very restrictive diets are prone to having high BrAC readings on fuel-cell machines. Also, a fuel-cell device has no mouth-alcohol detection system.

The Alco Sensor IV, with print, is being used by departments in Missouri...