Citation

Grambow L, Grosskreutz R, Neuhaeusser R, Schuck H. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 736-753.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Constructional features of the alcotest infrared breath alcohol analyzer are discussed, e.g. Folding of the IR-beam in the measuring chamber in order to obtain a sufficiently long absorption path; evaluation of the size of the measuring chamber to ensure the investigation of deep lung air; necessity of heating of those parts which come into contact with breathing air; a special breath sampling technique which guarantees in a unique way that only alveolar air is analyzed; automatic control of test procedure avoiding operator judgement; instantaneous digital readout of test results and possibility of printout results. In vitro test data prove that the alcotest has an excellent short term and long term stability. Calibration of the instrument is necessary at most twice a year. About 400 bac-brac correlation data were obtained in three field trials at Hamburg, Luebeck and Munster in 1979. (TRRL)