Citation

Schmitt G, Goll M, Ganbmann B, Aderjan R. Blutalkohol 2001; 38(6): 395-400.

Affiliation

Inst. Rechtsmedizin/Verkehrsmedizin, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A police officer was suspected of drink driving after he was found drunk at home. The result of breath alcohol testing carried out at the local police station was 0.72 mg/L. Two blood samples were taken at 30-minute intervals and stored overnight in a refrigerator, which was not locked. An examination for ethanol was carried out resulting in 32 and 39 per mille respectively as well as 4.3 and 6.8 g/L isopropanol respectively. The samples were suspected to be contaminated due to the fact that they contained a definite ethanol and isopropanol mixture, which pointed at a disinfectant. An examination for ethyl glucuronide (EtG) was carried out in order to establish whether or not there had been an ethanol consumption. Alcohol consumption was proven. The EtG concentrations in blood were 5.7 and 5.6 mg/L, which implied a BAC max of at least 1.6 per mille that doesn't, however, necessarily coincide with that of the time of blood sampling. He claims to have consumed alcohol after driving home, prior to the blood sampling. Given these circumstances the EtG concentration in his blood should have increased. However, given the relatively short half hour interval between blood sampling, the gradient of the EtG concentration could not be determined with sufficient accuracy. Therefore, an alcohol consumption after driving could not be ruled out. For the determination of EtG concentrations we would recommend an interval of one hour in cases when there may be the possibility of the last drink being consumed 2 or 3 hours ago and therefore the concentration curve may no longer be used for evidential purposes. Furthermore it is advisable to introduce a regulation determining the correct storage of samples in lockable refrigerators in police stations.