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[The "Alcomat" breath alcohol analyzer in a controlled drinking trial]
Blutalkohol
|September 1, 1991
Summary
The ALCOMAT breathalyzer is unreliable for forensic use, showing significant deviations in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings even after controlled tests. Mouth rinsing with alcohol caused inaccurate residual alcohol indications, impacting its forensic reliability.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Breath alcohol analyzers are crucial for forensic applications to estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
- The "ALCOMAT" breathalyzer's residual alcohol detector requires validation for forensic accuracy.
- Controlled drinking tests were designed to assess the device's performance under specific forensic scenarios.
Observation:
- Non-alcoholic individuals rinsing mouths with whiskey exhibited initial residual alcohol readings and subsequent BAC up to 0.26%.
- Participants with pre-existing BAC showed deviations up to 2.07% (130% of actual BAC) when mouth rinsing or ingesting whiskey.
- No clear correlation was observed between the magnitude of deviation and the actual blood alcohol concentration level.
Findings:
- The ALCOMAT breathalyzer's residual alcohol detection is insufficiently reliable for forensic purposes.
- Electronic safety features did not guarantee accuracy under controlled testing conditions.
- Mouth rinsing with alcohol significantly impacted breathalyzer readings, leading to potential overestimation of BAC.
Implications:
- The study questions the forensic validity of the ALCOMAT breathalyzer due to inconsistent and inaccurate readings.
- Results highlight the need for re-evaluation of breathalyzer calibration and usage protocols in forensic settings.
- Further research is recommended to develop more robust and reliable methods for forensic BAC determination.