Breathalyser Questions that are most often asked:
How do I use my breath alcohol tester?
For most models, a user simply blows through the mouthpiece for 5 seconds. The blowing is similar to blowing out a candle and the user should blow evenly for the entire 5 seconds. The breathalyser will indicate when to start and stop blowing, and if the sample was not adequate for an accurate reading.
The sensors measure the alcohol level of air in the deep lungs. This value is converted into the corresponding Blood Alcohol Content (%BAC) estimate. Testing is most accurate if subjects have not consumed food or alcohol 15 minutes prior to testing to ensure that there is no residual mouth alcohol.
Why must I wait 15 to 20 minutes after consuming food or alcohol to ensure testing results are accurate?
A breathalyser is able to calculate this percentage using only a breath sample because of the precise relationship between alcohol in the blood and alcohol metabolised into the lungs from the bloodstream. As such, it is important to make sure the mouth is clear of contaminant (including alcohol) so that the breath sample contains pure lung air, or as close as possible.
What type of maintenance is required to maintain a personal or professional breathalyser? Do they require calibration?
Over time, all alcohol testers need to be re-calibrated to maintain accuracy. Calibration is a process of checking and adjusting the accuracy of a unit by comparing its results with a known value. For example, a known 0.080 %BAC gas concentration is blown into a breathalyser, and the unit is adjusted to make sure it correctly reads 0.080 %BAC.
This process is sort of like winding a clock. When the clock is first set it displays accurate time. However, over time the clock gradually drifts a few minutes, and eventually can be off by quite a bit if you do not occasionally reset the clock. When selecting an alcohol tester, it is imperative to select a unit that is capable of being calibrated.
How often should I calibrate my breathalyser to ensure accuracy?
We recommend re-calibrating breathalysers with semi-conductor sensors every 300 tests or once a year, whichever one comes first. Breathalysers with fuel cell sensors will remain accurate for thousands of tests, but should still be re-calibrated annually. Additionally for these models, using the breathalyser regularly can actually help keep it accurate, as the moisture in exhaled human breath is beneficial to the sensor.