History of the Breathalyzer

Analyzer breath alcohol or breath, has been used for many years to measure the alcohol content in blood, or BAC. "Breathalyzer" is actually used only once as a brand name, but then used for all machines of this type in many cases and is now used as a generic term, in addition to the brand.

Analyzer Alcohol Breath was created in 1938. Called "Drunkometer" breathing machines are collected in a balloon and then pumped through a potassium permanganate solution, if ethanol is present, the solution, chemically sensitive construction, the color change.

Although revolutionary for its time, Drunkometer is a major drawback: it is difficult or impossible to say how much alcohol in the sample, and because prosecutors are primarily based on other evidence to obtain a conviction of intoxication, such as witness statements. This is clearly a measure of the amount of alcohol in the sample is required.

In 1954, the first analysis of the market, these machines are used in chemical oxidation and photometry, and may determine not only the presence of alcohol, but also the concentration of ethanol in the sample. While many of the breathalyzers are now based on infrared spectroscopy to determine the concentration, there are several types on the market today. Other types, such as AlcoHAWK breath alcohol analysis, using a semiconductor or a fuel cell to track.

Although it is generally supposed to prove Breathalyzer test, this is not true. A breathalyzer is to estimate the amount of ethanol in the sample, requires a blood test to prove Bac. However, the officials gave breathalyzer law enforcement field with a powerful tool that allows them to estimate the Bac and determine whether a blood test.

If a person is tested and receive a score of.08 or higher is generally considered under the influence. That translates into.08 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Agree that those who have high school diplomas or higher of.08 deterioration in their ability to operate a motor vehicle. In most states, accepted the results of breath tests in the courts and is used to support a blood test, which can slow the breath, which reduces the body metabolizes alcohol.

Some breathalysers are limited and not always give accurate results. Recent studies have shown that heavy breathing caused by exercise can significantly reduce the gain of Bac BAC readings. In one study, 20 seconds of hyperventilation read Bac reduced by 32%. On the other hand, hold the breath can increase the reading by 28%. It is clear that false positives can be obtained in some cases, although most of the breathalyzer results was confirmed by blood tests.