AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY OF SOME DEVICES FOR TESTING OF BREATH ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS
This is a non-detailed report of a controlled laboratory study of the accuracy of devices which drivers can use to measure their own breath alcohol concentration. Manufacturers and distributors were invited to submit their devices by means of a Sydney Morning Herald advertisement. In addition, firms known or believed likely to offer such devices were individually telephoned. Devices which were submitted by their distributors were tested in a breath simulator, at different known alcohol concentrations. Two carrier gases were used: room air and simulated exhaled breath. The tests were conducted at two flow rates of the carrier gases. Some devices were affected by these factors, but not very greatly. Some devices were very accurate and consistent. Only one type of device performed poorly. The schedule of acceptable devices is given. The present study does not address the issue of difficulties or mistakes when the devices are in actual use by people who have to rely on instructions. Similarly, it does not take into account the effects of smoking nor the possibility of rising blood alcohol content continuing after the test. However, the tests do give a very good indication of the accuracy of the equipment tested when properly used and maintained. (TRRL)
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0724070516
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Corporate Authors:
New South Wales Traffic Authority
56 Rothschild Avenue
Rosebery, New South Wales 2018, AustraliaUniversity of Sydney
Department of Pharmacology, Parramatta Road
Sydney, New South Wales Australia 2006New South Wales Institute of Technology
Harris Street
Broadway, New South Wales, Australia -
Authors:
- STARMER, G A
- Publication Date: 1984-4
Media Info
- Pagination: 12 p.
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Serial:
- Publication of: New South Wales, Traffic Authority
- Publisher: New South Wales Traffic Authority
- ISSN: 0313-9846
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Accuracy; Alcohol breath tests; Blood alcohol levels; Errors; Evaluation and assessment; Laboratories; Laboratory tests; Measuring instruments; Reliability; Test procedures; Testing equipment; Tests
- Uncontrolled Terms: Reproducibility
- ITRD Terms: 1542: Alcohol test; 6155: Apparatus (measuring); 1553: Blood alcohol content; 6440: Error; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 6237: Laboratory (not an organization); 5927: Reproducibility; 6255: Test
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00389203
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- ISBN: 0-7240-7051-6
- Report/Paper Numbers: RN 2/84 Monograph
- Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
- Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM