How Accurate Are Personal Breathalyzers?

What you need to know before purchasing a personal breathalyzer.

Whether you’ve previously been arrested for a DWI-related offense, or you’re simply someone who enjoys going out to grab a drink with friends, it is important to be aware of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level before leaving the bar and getting behind the wheel.

While there are now a lot of high-tech gadgets available that claim to be a helpful aid when deciding whether or not you have reached your legal driving limit, it is important to know that only a small number of these gadgets actually give accurate readings.

One such gadget, a personal breathalyzer, can be a great tool for determining your BAC level after having a few drinks. However, it is important to understand what qualifies a breathalyzer as reliable before depending on them to avoid getting a DWI.

How Do Breathalyzers Work?

One way that alcohol leaves a person’s body is through their lungs. Thereforethe sensors that are typically found in devices used by police officers. However, because breath testing devices used in police departments are typically recalibrated every month to maintain accuracy, consumer devices may never be quite as accurate as police tests.

It is also important to keep in mind that certain things can trigger an inaccurate reading in breathalyzers: alcohol may not have fully absorbed into the blood stream if a person has had food, drinks or tobacco in the 15 minutes before taking the test. Also, certain products that contain high levels of alcohol such as mouthwash or breath spray may register in a breathalyzer reading.

How Do You Find An Accurate Breathalyzer?

Keeping in mind all of the factors mentioned above, there are several breathalyzers on the market that can help provide an accurate BAC level reading. Whether you purchase your device online or in stores, it is important to make sure than a breathalyzer has the following features:

• FDA Approval: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must review all breath alcohol tests in order to determine whether or not they are safe and effective prior to being sold for personal use. Therefore, FDA-approved breathalyzers are much more likely to provide successful testing.
• A Mouthpiece: Alcohol testers that use a mouthpiece when capturing a breath sample are much more accurate than other models in which you blow at or on. These other unites, known as Passive Testing Unites, can allow air to mix with your breath sample which will alter the reading.
• Exhale Measuring Capabilities: Confirming the force of a person’s exhale is important when getting an accurate BAC reading. Older devices that cannot tell the difference between a strong and weak exhale may receive a diluted breath sample.
• High Accuracy Level: If you are using your breathalyzer to determine whether or not you are okay to drive, accuracy is extremely important. The most accurate breathalyzers available have an accuracy of +-0.005. You shouldn’t go much higher than this.

While breathalyzers are a helpful tool in determining your intoxication levels, it is important to realize that even if your breathalyzer reflects that your BAC is under the legal limit, you can still be arrested for a DWI if a police officer believes that you are impaired. The only way to fully prevent a DWI is to get a designated driver or to not drink and drive.

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