Citation

Mebs D, Schmidt K, Gerchow J. Blutalkohol 1977; 14(4): 240-246.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An automatic gas chromatographic and data processing device for blood alcohol determination (head-space-method) using the Multifact F-42 (Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer u. Co GmbH) combined with the integrator HP 3380 A (Hewett-Packard) is described. The data system consists of four electronic modules and an output electro-mechanical mechanism. By the front panel the optimal parameters for peak integration and calculation of the values obtained can be programmed. The analog input informations from the gas chromatograph are converted into digital information by a converter and supplied to the processor where all synchronizing, calculating, computing and memory functions are performed. The necessary data are then applied to the print-plot controller which controls the electromechanical devices of the printer-plotter mechanism. Here, the electrical signals from the controller board are converted into actual results. After a calibration run of a known amount of alcohol in the gas chromatograph peak names are assigned to response factors (amount) and retention times in the integrator by a 'calibration-dialogue', where 'questions', asked by the integrator, are answered by entering the respective data. In routine analysis the data system gets a signal from the gas chromatograph by injection of the sample and starts with printing and integration of the peaks. At the end of each analysis a second signal stops the chromatogram recording, calculation of the data follows and the actual result of the analysis is plotted out. The system has the advantage that all these steps, recording of the chromatogram, plotting of calculation and result are printed as a report on the same sheet facilitating the documentation of the data.