Breath Testing Technology Flashcards
absorption of alcohol
simple diffusion
no digestion, rapid absorption
30% absorbed from stomach
70% absorbed from small intestine (villi; greater SA)
absorption factors of alcohol
amount of food
CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL IN THE BEVERAGE
RATE OF CONSUMPTION
time to peak BAC
after single large dose
- majority f alcohol absorbed in 15 mins
- more than 90% of alcohol absorbed in one hour
peak BAC reached within 30 mins after last drink
how is alcohol eliminated from the body?
metabolism
- mainly liver
- changed to CO2 and water
- 90-98% of alcohol consumed is metabolized
excretion
- removed from the body unchanged (goes out exactly the same as it came in)
- breath, urine, sweat, tears, saliva, feces
- 2-10% of alcohol consumed
rate of elimination of alcohol
independent of body weight, height, age or gender
range of values is 10-20 mg% per hour
heavy drinkers usually have a higher rate of elimination
other bodily fluids analyzed for alcohol
blood = gold standard
urine = 30% higher than blood
vit humour = 20% higher than blood
serum/plasma = 10-20% higher than blood
T or F. Alcohol is classified as a CNS stimulant
F! depressant
death from alcohol
BAC of 400 mg% or greater
= depression of respiratory centre and breathing stops
what is impairment?
a deterioration of sensory and mental faculties that are necessary to operate a motor vehicle safely
- all indivs, regardless of tolerance to alcohol, are impaired with respect to their ability to operate a motor vehicle at a BAC of 100 mg% and above
what is intoxication?
advanced state of impairment in which the gross physical symptoms are apparent
- staggering, fumbling, in-coordination, slurred speech, and general state of confusion (OVERT)
the ability of body to withstand or resist the effects of alc through adaptation
tolerance
- seasoned drinkers can mask the obvious signs associated with intoxication
the leading cause of collisions
alcohol
relative probability of causing an accident with a BAC of 100 mg% is ___ times greater than if the driver were sober
six
CAU
60 to 99 mg%
IRS warn for licensed driver
IRS zero oe novice or commerical driver
FAil
100 mg% or greater
IRS Fail
arrest and breath demand for evidentiary test (if aggravating factors)
T or F. Alcohol distributes throughout the body in proportion to water content of tissues and fluids
T! hydrophilic so blood and urine have high water content and high alcohol content
bones and fat = low alc content
effects of alcohol are ___________; more severe as the _____ gets higher
PROGRESSIVE; BAC
four general ranges of alcohol symptoms
impairment
intoxication
severe intoxication
death
impairment
BAC <100 mg%
effect on driving skills:
- visual abilities
- judgment
- rxn time
- concentration/attention
- information processing
intoxication
BAC 100-250 mg%
- disturbed vision
- loss of balance
- vasodilation (flushed skin, red eyes)
- muscular incoordination
- slurred speech
- emotional disturbance
- decreased pain sense
this stage of alcohol symptom has reached the motor cortex of brain
intoxication
severe intoxication
BAC 250 - 400 mg%
- depressed reflexes
- apathy
- stupor
- comatose
death
BAC >400 mg%
- depression of resp centre
- breathing stops (4-6 mins no breathing = brain dead)
a deterioration of sensory and mental faculties that are necessary to operate a motor vehicle safely
impairment
blood:breath alcohol ratio used for breath testing in Canada is …
2100:1
at 34C, _____ parts of deep lung air contain the same content of alcohol as ___ part of blood
2100; 1
sample acceptance criteria: to ensure deep lung air …
minimum flow rate, minimum volume, drop in flow rate after minimum volume met
alco-sensor FST
approved screening device
testing phases of screening for alc
collection (sample into device)
analysis (chemical rxn of alcohol in a fuel cell)
measurement (determining the quantity of alcohol present by means of alpha-numeric display)
0-59% on digital display
actual result
- actions: release for licensed driver
- IRS zero for novice or commercial driver
Intox EC/IR II
approved instrument
two analytical techniques = fuel cell (EC), infrared (IR)
fuel cell
electrochemical sensor
chemical rxn occurs which produces a current proportional to the amt of alc present in the breath sample
mouth alcohol
present on the breath immediately after consumption of alc
higher conctn in mouth than in blood
can take up to 15 mins to dissipate
deprivation period prior to breath sample
mouth alcohol detection
IR system monitors alcohol and CO2 conctn as the breath sample is being provided
normally these profiles track each other
mouth alcohol will cause these profiles to be different and the test will abort w a status message
instrument will time down 15 mins before another sample can be taken
reliability of AI (approved instruments) results
- diagnostic test performed by instrument
- alcohol standard test with known target value to ensure instrument is in proper working order
- 2 breath samples taken atl east 15 mins apart that agree within 20mg%
