BLOOD ALCOHOL IN AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS: MEASUREMENT AND INTERPRETATION FOR MEDICOLEGAL PURPOSES. I. EFFECT OF TIME INTERNAL BETWEEN INCIDENT AND SAMPLE ACQUISITION

The blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were estimated by Breathalyzer at various intervals after drinking in 18 drivers, who estimated the time of their last drink; in 16 subjects who drank various alcoholic beverages; and in 11 subjects who drank various alcoholic beverages and then drove a car through an obstacle course. The ranges of Breathalyzer readings for the 3 groups were 0.08-0.20%, 0.06-0.13%, and 0.09-0.20%. Analysis of all the readings and comparison with expected values (calculated by using the known metabolic rate of alcohol) indicated that, when BACs of 0.06 to 0.20% have been reached by the time the test is made, and if the Breathalyzer reading is determined within 2 hr following a driving incident, the BAC is not practically different from what it was at the time of the incident because the rate of change during a 2-hr interval is less than the analytical error of the test procedure. The medicolegal implications are discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University, New Brunswick

  Center of Alcohol Studies
  New Brunswick, NJ  United States  08903
• Authors:
  • Loomis, T A
• Publication Date: 1974-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 458-472
• Serial:
  • Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 2A
  • Publisher: Rutgers University, New Brunswick

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol breath tests; Alcohols; Blood alcohol levels; Diseases and medical conditions; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Legal factors; Measurement
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080596
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 1975 12:00AM