NCJ Number
156408
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: special issue (June 1995) Pages: 153-164
Date Published
1995
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Two infrared (IR) breath alcohol analyzers, the Alcotest 7110 and the Intoxilyzer 5000C, were evaluated against blood results and against the Breathalyzer 900A currently used by Canadian police agencies.
Abstract
A total of 18 healthy human subjects were used in the study for breath-to-breath comparisons, and 15 subjects provided two blood samples approximately 1 hour apart for blood-breath correlations. Subjects were instructed to eat a normal breakfast prior to drinking and then drink an alcoholic beverage of their choice at a consumption rate between 0.49 and 1.39 g/kg/h of alcohol for approximately 2 hours. Starting about 30 minutes after drinking stopped, subjects provided breath samples over a period ranging from 2 to 5.5 hours. IR analyzers and the Breathalyzer showed a high degree of correlation with blood samples, although all three instruments underestimated blood results. In breath-to-breath comparisons, the Intoxilyzer underestimated the Breathalyzer, while the Alcotest overestimated the Breathalyzer. 21 references, 3 tables, and 6 figures