There are various dissimilar methods available for alcohol testing. Alcohol may be tested in the blood, breath, urine and saliva.

Blood Alcohol Testing

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is considered to be the popular for measuring the degree to which an person is impaired by alcohol. For years, studies have shown that there is a direct correlation amidst the blood alcohol concentration and the degree to which reactions and judgments are impaired. The methodology used for blood alcohol testing is Gas Chromatography and is the most precise forensic quality test in the industry today. However, drawing blood is an invasive and highpriced routine that most companies prefer to avoid.

Breath Alcohol Testing

It is well proven that there is a direct correlation amid the blood alcohol concentration of a person and their breath alcohol contents. During respiration, gas is counterchanged from the lungs to the blood (primarily oxygen) for the duration of inhalation, and visa versa (primarily C02) for the duration of exhalation. During this exchange, alcohol in the blood vaporizes and is carried out of the lungs in the exhaled breath. There are assorted types of breath alcohol testers available today. These range from disposable screening testers to the instrumentation that provides legally admissible results, including very highpriced digital read-out breath alcohol monitors. These types of testers fall into three categories:

• Evidential Breath Testing Devices
• Non Evidential Portable Hand Held Devices
• Disposable Devices (provides non forensic results)

The evidential breath testing devices are in general costly (costs range from $2000-$5000 per unit), require regular maintenance, fix and calibration, and must be operated by certified personnel. Attachments such as sterile mouth pieces must be used each time a test is performed. These units are big table top units designed to be applied in one location. Movement may cause a modify in calibration which will require maintenance.

The portable hand held devices provide somewhat exact results and are used for screening purposes. By measuring the alcohol content in the breath, a dependable indication of the blood alcohol level is achieved. Portables gadgets are less exact than evidential devices, nevertheless by comparing the cost performance ratio, these widgets are lowpriced and sufficient for personal usage. Most potable widgets are not evidential and hence they can not be employed in the court of law.

The disposable gimmicks are noninvasive, less exact and non scalable methods of screening for alcohol. Can be used to observe the presence of alcohol with a rough estimate to the degree of impairment. Being disposable, the cost per test for preliminary screening is substantially higher than the cost of testing using portable devices.

Here is how they work The ethyl alcohol in the blood escapes through the lung tissue into the exhaled breath. The presence of ethyl alcohol in the breath is detectable by a color modify of very sensible chemically coated crystals contained in the Disposable Breath Analyzer. Immediately prior to use, the ampoule is ruptured by slight finger pressure on the outer flexible clear tube to release crystals within the confines of the tube. When the subject exhales into the tube, crystals interact with breath vapor and alter color from yellow to blue if alcohol is present. If all the crystals change color completely, this suggests that the blood alcohol level of the subject is over 0.10%, exceeding the legal limit in most states.

Urine Alcohol Testing

Although urine alcohol testing will indicate the presence of alcohol of a person, it will not indicate the current condition of the individual. Once consumed, alcohol enters the blood through the stomach within 15 minutes, causing prompt impairment. It is then metabolized by the body and, after 1½ to 2 hours, will start out to show up in the urine. Therefore, urine alcohol does not measure a true condition of the person. The results indicate the condition assorted hours before.

Additionally, urine alcohol concentration does not directly correspond to blood alcohol concentration. Urine alcohol concentration will vary depending on the metaboli process of the person and the amount of liquid in his system. For instance, a person who is somewhat dehydrated will tend to have a higher alcohol concentration in his urine than somebody who has a normal level of liquid in his system.

At least one study has conveyed that a untrue positive for urine alcohol may occur. High levels of sugar and acetone in the body may cause fermentation in the urine, creating a untrue positive for urine alcohol. All things considered, the urine alcohol test is the least preferent or perhaps exact test available for alcohol testing. It is suitable to read a supporting exploration paper published in THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY: ERRORS OF CONVERTING A URINE ALCOHOL VALUE INTO A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL. SIDNEY KAYE, PH.D., AND EDUARDO CARDONA, M. S.

Saliva Alcohol Testing

The second type of disposable tester available today tests the saliva for alcohol presence. Although a correlation among blood alcohol concentration and saliva alcohol concentration is believed to exist, the engineering science and chemical reaction applied has not been proven to be precise or reliable.

Saliva testers are treated with an enzyme Alcohol Oxidize, which responds to alcohol in ratio to the concentration of alcohol in a mixed saliva sample placed on it. The user estimates the BAC by comparing the color change on the test strip patch to popular colors calibrated to correspond to dissimilar BACs.

Although a lot of saliva testers seem to indicate the presence of alcohol reasonably well, the enzyme alcohol oxidize used in these testers is effortlessly effected by hot and cold temperatures. Hot temperatures will tend to indicate falsely high readings, while cold temperatures will tend to indicate falsely low readings. Exposure to temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit or to ambient air will demolish the enzyme alcohol oxidize rendering the tester useless. Most saliva testers give no indication if contamination has occurred, they just will not work. Saliva testers in general have a shelf life of one year or less.

Additionally, most saliva testers do not have test results from independent laboratories.

Cardiochek Portable Blood Test System

INDICATIONS: CardioChek portable blood test system. This system is employed for in vitro diagnostic use. It is principally used to measure Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides in whole blood. Test strips are sold separately. Suitable for self testing.