ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 September 1987
Page Count: 6

Breathalyzer® Accuracy in Actual Law Enforcement Practice: A Comparison of Blood- and Breath-Alcohol Results in Wisconsin Drivers
Field, PH
Chemist and chief, Toxicology Section, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, WI

Harding, P
Chemist and chief, Toxicology Section, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, WI

(Received 17 November 1986; accepted 30 January 1987)

Abstract

Breathalyzer® and blood-alcohol results from drivers arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and for related offenses were compared during a two-year period. Four hundred and four pairs of breath- and blood-alcohol results from specimens collected within 1 h of each other were studied. Blood-alcohol concentrations ranged from zero to 0.421% weight per volume (w/v). Breath-alcohol concentrations ranged from zero to 0.44 g/210 L. The mean Breathalyzer result was 0.16 g/210 L. The mean blood-alcohol result was 0.176% w/v. Compared to the blood-alcohol result, Breathalyzer results were lower by more than 0.01 g/210 L 61% of the time, within 0.01 g/210 L 33% of the time, and higher by more than 0.01 g/210 L 6% of the time.

Keywords:
criminalistics, breath-alcohol testing devices, comparative analysis

Paper ID: JFS11174J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11174J
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