Breath-acetone concentrations in fasting healthy men: response of infrared breath-alcohol analyzers

Six healthy men fasted for 12 and 36 hours, and the resulting concentration of acetone in their breath was determined by gas chromatography. Breath samples were also analyzed by two commercially available breath-alcohol analyzers: Intoxilyzer Model 4011 and Alcotest 7010. Both these devices employ single wavelength infrared absorption spectrometry for detection of ethanol. This IR technique is not specific for ethanol but responds to acetone at the wavelength of 3.4 microns used for light absorption. After the men fasted for 12 hours, their breath-acetone concentrations ranged from 2.3 to 4.0 micrograms/L, and both breath-alcohol analyzers gave zero response (0.000 g/210 L). After 36 hours fasting, breath-acetone concentrations ranged from 33.6 to 157.2 micrograms/L, and the maximum "apparent" ethanol response was 0.005 g/210 L recorded on the Alcotest device. In the test subject with 157.2 micrograms/L acetone in his breath, the intoxilyzer gave a reading of 0.002 g/210 L. The present work shows that elevated breath-acetone concentrations associated with prolonged fasting (36 hours) are not a significant interference problem when infrared breath-alcohol analyzers are used for evidential purposes.