How to Conduct a Breath Alcohol Test
17 January, 2022
You can check your alcohol intoxication level using many methods. For example, you can try walking in a straight line, balancing standing on one leg, or taking the walk-and-turn test. However, these are not highly accurate methods to assess your exact alcohol level. A breath alcohol test is the most efficient and effective way to determine your blood alcohol level objectively. A breathalyser device measures the blood alcohol content (BAC) through an exhaled breath. Devices like BACtrack personal breathalysers have sensors that electrochemically process the ethanol in the breath. Then, it produces electrical currents, which determines the BAC level in proportion to the alcohol in the blood.
To effectively get accurate BAC results, you must follow proper breathalyser guidelines, as these are highly sensitive devices. To conduct a breath alcohol test, you must wait at least 15 minutes after the last consumed drink. Waiting for the body to absorb alcohol gives it time to reach the lungs and exit through exhalation. It also eliminates the possibility of the device picking up with the residual mouth alcohol. Using a BACtrack breathalyser is easy. Firstly, turn on the device and wait for the breathalyser to warm up. Next, it will initiate a countdown timer to prepare you to give a sample breath. As the countdown approaches 2, begin to inhale a deep breath. Then, upon reaching 0, provide a continuous blow until you hear a beeping sound. The sensor will analyse the breath sample and display your BAC results on the device’s LED screen or your smartphone app.
Improving Breath Alcohol Test Accuracy
Conducting a breath alcohol test is that easy. Anyone can perform a breath test with a breathalyser, unlike blood alcohol tests. These tests are also quick; it only takes 10 to 15 seconds for a BACtrack device to process your data. To further improve accuracy, there are a few things you should remember. Firstly, you should make sure you have provided an adequate breath sample. Watch out for notifications on device screens about sufficient breath samples. Most importantly, ensure that you have your device regularly calibrated. After prolonged usage, the leftover residue within the device may start to alter the readings. You should provide recalibration every 6 to 12 months, depending on how often you use your device.
A breathalyser is the most cost-efficient method to check your BAC level. A breath alcohol test is also easy to perform. BACtrack personal breathalysers have one-button operations, which allows you to perform tests with just a press of a button. Additionally, these tests are also highly reliable. Police officers rely highly on BAC readings from breath testing devices to help them maintain road safety. You can check for the different BACtrack breathalysers available at Breathalysers New Zealand.
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