@article{ref1,
title="Results of a proposed breath alcohol proficiency test program",
journal="Journal of forensic sciences",
year="2006",
author="Gullberg, Rod G. and Logan, Barry Kerr",
volume="51",
number="1",
pages="168-172",
abstract="Although proficiency test programs have long been used in both clinical and forensic laboratories, they have not found uniform application in forensic breath alcohol programs. An initial effort to develop a proficiency test program appropriate to forensic breath alcohol analysis is described herein. A total of 11 jurisdictions participated in which 27 modern instruments were evaluated. Five wet bath simulator solutions with ethanol vapor concentrations ranging from 0.0254 to 0.2659 g/210 L were sent to participating programs, instructing them to perform n = 10 measurements on each solution using the same instrument. Four of the solutions contained ethanol only and one contained ethanol mixed with acetone. The systematic errors for all instruments ranged from -11.3% to +11.4% while the coefficient of variations ranged from zero to 6.1%. A components-of-variance analysis revealed at least 79% of the total variance as being due to the between-instrument component for all concentrations. Improving proficiency test program development should consider: (1) clear protocol instructions, (2) frequency of proficiency testing, (3) use lower concentrations for determining limits-of-detection and -quantitation, etc. Despite the lack of a biological component, proficiency test participation should enhance the credibility of forensic breath test programs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-1198",
doi="10.1111/j.1556-4029.2005.00008.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2005.00008.x"
}