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Related Experiment Videos

Nystagmus testing in intoxicated individuals.

Karl Citek1, Bret Ball, Dale A Rutledge

  • 1College of Optometry, Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116, USA. citekk1@pacificu.edu

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.)
|December 5, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Law enforcement officers can use Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) and Vertical Gaze Nystagmus (VGN) tests to detect impaired drivers, even when seated or lying down. These tests accurately identify impairment regardless of driver posture.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Toxicology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Law enforcement uses psychophysical tests to assess driver impairment.
  • Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) and Vertical Gaze Nystagmus (VGN) tests are standard roadside assessments.
  • Previous validation assumed a standing posture, but seated or supine testing may induce Positional Alcohol Nystagmus (PAN).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the validity of HGN and VGN tests in seated and supine positions.
  • To determine if Positional Alcohol Nystagmus (PAN) interferes with HGN/VGN test interpretation.
  • To assess the effectiveness of these tests across different driver postures.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-six drinkers were tested at various Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC).
  • Forty experienced officers administered HGN and VGN tests in standing, seated, and supine postures.
  • Objective BAC measurement was performed using a breath analysis instrument.

Main Results:

  • HGN test results correlated with increasing BAC across all postures.
  • VGN was observed only at high BACs, alongside HGN signs.
  • PAN occurred at BACs of 0.08% and higher but was not confused with HGN or VGN.

Conclusions:

  • HGN and VGN tests are effective in discriminating impairment at 0.08% and 0.10% BAC in standing, seated, and supine postures.
  • These tests reliably identify impaired drivers regardless of their position.
  • Officers can confidently use HGN and VGN tests in various scenarios to determine driver impairment.

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