ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the minimum lung function required by an individual to complete a breath alcohol test successfully using a Lion Alcolmeter SD-400. A total of 331 subjects routinely referred to a busy clinical respiratory function laboratory for assessment of their lung function were tested. A total of 52 (15.7%) of these subjects were unable to provide an adequate sample after two attempts. The majority of the group (86.5%) were female. There was considerable overlap of the minimum lung function parameters between those subjects who were unsuccessful at all attempts and those who were successful. The failure rate of the subjects using the Lion Alcolmeter SD-400 was approximately 50% of that found in a previous study of the Lion SD-2.
Subject(s)
Breath Tests/instrumentation , Ethanol/analysis , Lung Diseases/physiopathology , Respiratory Mechanics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Forensic Medicine/instrumentation , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine if inability to complete a breath alcohol test successfully, using a Lion Alcolmeter SD-2 or Drager Alcotest 7110, was related to any of the standard parameters obtained from the lung function spirometry test. A total of 153 subjects referred to a clinical laboratory for routine lung function testing were tested using the Alcolmeter, 158 using the Alcotest, with 69 subjects completing tests on both instruments. Of the 153 patients who volunteered to use the Alcolmeter, 49 (32%) were unable to produce a valid test effort on this instrument. One subject failed to complete a satisfactory test using the Alcotest, and one was unable to master the technique. There was considerable overlap of the minimum value for each of the lung function parameters of those subjects who could or could not successfully complete the breath alcohol test. It is recommended that changes are made to both of the instruments, the techniques used and the legislation, to minimize the number of breath alcohol testing failures and to reduce the variability of the results.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication/diagnosis , Breath Tests/instrumentation , Ethanol/pharmacokinetics , Lung Volume Measurements , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Airway Resistance/physiology , Alcoholic Intoxication/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Microcomputers , Middle Aged , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted/instrumentation , South AustraliaABSTRACT
Until 1986, commercially-available infrared breath alcohol analysing instruments employed wavelengths in the region of 3.4 mu. The move to the 9.5 mu region in the Dräger Alcotest 7110 promised greater discrimination against endogenous compounds such as acetone. The present study confirmed that acetone interference is insignificant and that in terms of in vitro accuracy and precision, the ten 7110 units tested were superior to the Breathalyzer 900, the instruments they will replace for evidential testing in South Australia. The new unit meets the South Australian Police demand for portability and its shielding prevents interference fron any of the common radio frequency transmissions in Adelaide when operating as near to the source as possible. Comparisons of breath results (monthly averages) and their corresponding blood results accumulated during the first few months of operation showed no bias between the two techniques.
