How Breathalyzers Work
This is a very simple description of how breathalyzers work. There are three basic types of breathalyzers used to detect blood alcohol content often abbreviated as BAC. The first is the semi-conductor oxide based tester which is the newest of the three technologies and considered to be among the most affordable. How they work is by using a specially designed sensor to measure BAC. Because this is a smaller unit, it is perfect for personal use and does not use as much power as the other types. It does need to have frequent calibration but that is its only major drawback.
Fuel cell testers are a little more complex but are also more accurate. These are also handheld so they are portable as well. They are so accurate that thirty states currently allow the fuel cell breathalyzers to be used for roadside sobriety checks. Basically, they work when a chemical reaction creates an electrical current. The machine then uses that current to give a reading. The higher the BAC, the higher the current will be.
The largest type of breathalyzer is the spectrophotometer which is frequently found in police stations as well as other professional settings. It works by identifying various molecules by the way that they absorb infrared light which is then translated by the machine into a reading. This number is often used in the police report to send to the prosecutor’s office to determine if there is a case or not.
The breathalyzer is used in a number of settings including personal homes to make sure that the person is okay to drive. It can be used in the clinical setting, especially for someone who is being counseled and may need to submit to frequent testing. This is simpler to administer than blood or urine testing which means that there is not a need to have highly trained staff in house.
A bar owner may suggest to a patron that they have had too much to drink. That person, convinced that they are fine will argue. When they take and fail a portable breathalyzer test, they might relent and accept that they should not be driving at all. Of course, that is not always the case, so it is important to keep control of the situation.
A breathalyzer analyzes the air that is breathed into it, making it very important that it not be done if something is in the mouth. The person should not eat, drink or smoke for fifteen minutes before the test is conducted. Once you know how a breathalyzer works, you may be more confident in the reading that you are seeing.
