Citation

Zager J, Estevez M. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 2002; 2002: 1153-1154.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Blood in the oral cavity during a breath alcohol analysis has been asserted to be a potential cause of falsely high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings by defense lawyers. The defense argues that the blood from oral trauma decreases the reliability of breath alcohol analysers even with the slightest (< 2 ml) volume of blood in the mouth. In the current report we provide actual field evidence demonstrating blood in the oral cavity has no effect on BAC measurements by breath alcohol analysers.