Breath Testing Technology

Question 1

absorption of alcohol

Answer 1

simple diffusion
no digestion, rapid absorption

30% absorbed from stomach
70% absorbed from small intestine (villi; greater SA)

Question 2

absorption factors of alcohol

Answer 2

amount of food
CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL IN THE BEVERAGE
RATE OF CONSUMPTION

Question 3

time to peak BAC

Answer 3

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

Question 4

how is alcohol eliminated from the body?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

rate of elimination of alcohol

Answer 5

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

Question 6

other bodily fluids analyzed for alcohol

Answer 6

blood = gold standard

urine = 30% higher than blood

vit humour = 20% higher than blood

serum/plasma = 10-20% higher than blood

Question 7

T or F. Alcohol is classified as a CNS stimulant

Answer 7

F! depressant

Question 8

death from alcohol

Answer 8

BAC of 400 mg% or greater
= depression of respiratory centre and breathing stops

Question 9

what is impairment?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

what is intoxication?

Answer 10

advanced state of impairment in which the gross physical symptoms are apparent

• staggering, fumbling, in-coordination, slurred speech, and general state of confusion (OVERT)

Question 11

the ability of body to withstand or resist the effects of alc through adaptation

Answer 11

tolerance

• seasoned drinkers can mask the obvious signs associated with intoxication

Question 12

the leading cause of collisions

Answer 12

alcohol

Question 13

relative probability of causing an accident with a BAC of 100 mg% is ___ times greater than if the driver were sober

Answer 13

six

Question 14

CAU

Answer 14

60 to 99 mg%
IRS warn for licensed driver
IRS zero oe novice or commerical driver

Question 15

FAil

Answer 15

100 mg% or greater
IRS Fail
arrest and breath demand for evidentiary test (if aggravating factors)

Question 16

T or F. Alcohol distributes throughout the body in proportion to water content of tissues and fluids

Answer 16

T! hydrophilic so blood and urine have high water content and high alcohol content

bones and fat = low alc content

Question 17

effects of alcohol are ___________; more severe as the _____ gets higher

Answer 17

PROGRESSIVE; BAC

Question 18

four general ranges of alcohol symptoms

Answer 18

impairment
intoxication
severe intoxication
death

Question 19

impairment

Answer 19

BAC <100 mg%
effect on driving skills:
- visual abilities
- judgment
- rxn time
- concentration/attention
- information processing

Question 20

intoxication

Answer 20

BAC 100-250 mg%
- disturbed vision
- loss of balance
- vasodilation (flushed skin, red eyes)
- muscular incoordination
- slurred speech
- emotional disturbance
- decreased pain sense

Question 21

this stage of alcohol symptom has reached the motor cortex of brain

Answer 21

intoxication

Question 22

severe intoxication

Answer 22

BAC 250 - 400 mg%
- depressed reflexes
- apathy
- stupor
- comatose

Question 23

death

Answer 23

BAC >400 mg%
- depression of resp centre
- breathing stops (4-6 mins no breathing = brain dead)

Question 24

a deterioration of sensory and mental faculties that are necessary to operate a motor vehicle safely

Answer 24

impairment

Question 25

blood:breath alcohol ratio used for breath testing in Canada is …

Answer 25

2100:1

Question 26

at 34C, _____ parts of deep lung air contain the same content of alcohol as ___ part of blood

Answer 26

2100; 1

Question 27

sample acceptance criteria: to ensure deep lung air …

Answer 27

minimum flow rate, minimum volume, drop in flow rate after minimum volume met

Question 28

alco-sensor FST

Answer 28

approved screening device

Question 29

testing phases of screening for alc

Answer 29

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)

Question 30

0-59% on digital display

Answer 30

actual result
- actions: release for licensed driver
- IRS zero for novice or commercial driver

Question 31

Intox EC/IR II

Answer 31

approved instrument
two analytical techniques = fuel cell (EC), infrared (IR)

Question 32

fuel cell

Answer 32

electrochemical sensor

chemical rxn occurs which produces a current proportional to the amt of alc present in the breath sample

Question 33

mouth alcohol

Answer 33

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

Question 34

mouth alcohol detection

Answer 34

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

Question 35

reliability of AI (approved instruments) results

Answer 35

• 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%