(888) 862-9788 Follow Us On Twitter 'Like' Us On Facebook Subscribe To Our Feed
0 item(s) / Total: CA$0
False positives
Posted by The Breathalyzer Team on 8/24/2011 to General Information
Breathalyzers measure the chemical reaction when ethanol in the breath passes into the breathalyzer. By measuring the reaction, the breathalyzer can indicate the amount of alcohol inside the users lungs. However there are outside factors which can impact your test results.

Mouthwash, even if you only had one beer, don’t try to hide it with this. Some brands of mouthwash, such as Listerine contain as much as 26.9% alcohol. Twice as much as a glass of wine. Gargle that for 30 secs and it stays in your mouth for 20 minutes. Which if you had nothing at all could cause you to blow over.

A well-known fact, smoking has negative affects on your life, but the combined chemicals in cigarettes are potent enough to show high level of BAC (blood alcohol levels). Acetaldehyde is a compound produced in the liver in small amounts as a by-product in the metabolism of alcohol. Because breathalyzers can’t tell the difference between alcohol and acetaldehyde, smokers tend to have a higher BAC level. Yet another reason not to smoke.

Eat something. If your diabetic this could be potentially useful. Hypoglycemia causes the production of acetone, much like acetaldehyde, will be read by the Breathalyzer as alcohol. Not to mention the effects as it is when someone suffers from low blood sugar. Blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, weakness, poor co-ordination, disoriented, the same symptoms of inebriation. This is associated to a low carb and low sugar diet.

Stomach Acid. If you burp or suffer from acid reflux, this too could produce a false positive. The alcohol in your stomach stays in your mouth for 20 minutes after the burp. The machine multiplies the amount of alcohol in a breath sample by 2100, it assumes the sample came from the lungs not the stomach; the average person has 2100 units in their blood stream for every unit in their breath.

Be sure to have a follow up breathalyzer done within 15 minutes. The last thing you would want it to fail a breathalyzer at no fault of your own.

Header
James Date 4/3/2016
James Date 4/13/2016
 
Add Comment
Name 
Email 
Body 
 

 Product News
 Canadian Law
 General Information

 Fuel Cell Versus Semiconductor Technology
 Did You Know...
 *NEW* Alberta DUI Law Update
 Interlock Devices vs. Handheld Devices
 Toronto High School Implements Compulsory Breathalyzer Test Before Entering Prom
 Alberta Strengthens Drunk Driving Laws With New Bill Effective July 1st, 2012
 BC's Amended DUI Law Back In Full Swing June 15th, 2012
 DUI Laws Across Canada
 Metabolisms - Men vs Women
 Could Canada Be Next To Follow In France's Footsteps?

 November 2012
 September 2012
 July 2012
 June 2012
 May 2012
 April 2012
 March 2012
 February 2012
 November 2011
 October 2011
 September 2011
 August 2011
 February 2011
 December 2010
 November 2010
 September 2010
 July 2010
 February 2010
 January 2010