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Testing for Intoxication
Breath Testing A device for measuring the alcohol content
of alveolar breath. Rapid and accurate results
Breath-Test instruments Breathalyzer developed in 1954 Breathalyzer has been phased out and
replaced Ratio of alcohol in the blood to alcohol in
alveolar breath is 2100 to 1 Infrared and fuel cell detectors
No chemicals Microprocessor controlled
Considerations in Breath Testing Unit is programmed to accept no less then 1.1 –
1.5 liters of breath
Blow for a minimum time at a minimum rate Slope detector – ensures that the breath sample
is alveolar or deep-lung breath Mouth alcohol – from vomiting, belching, or recent
intake of an alcoholic beverage, or alcohol containing mouthwash
Nothing can be in the person’s mouth 15-20 minutes before testing
Analysis of Blood Alcohol Blood is drawn using a non-alcohol disinfectant Sealed in an airtight container Add anticoagulant – keeps blood from clotting Add preservative – inhibits the growth of
microorganisms Must be kept cold to keep alcohol level from
dropping Must be stored for only a short period of time
Collecting blood postmortem Collect a number of blood samples from
different body sites All the blood alcohol levels should be the
same Collect urine and vitreous humor as well
because they do not suffer from postmortem ethyl alcohol production
Alcohol and the Law Current blood-concentration standard for
intoxication is 0.08 Per se laws – any individual exceeding a defined
blood-alcohol level 0.08 shall be deemed intoxicated
Implied consent law – prevent a person from refusing to take a test on constitutional grounds. Must consent to a test for alcohol intoxication or lose their license.