NCJ Number
242689
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2012 Pages: 195-200
Date Published
December 2012
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to look at the correlation between the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) as determined from breath analysis on a recently approved instrument, the Intox EC/IR II, and the near simultaneous results from whole blood collection and analysis from volunteer drinking subjects.
Abstract
During Impaired Driving Investigations, peace officers can use a breath testing instrument to determine the concentration of alcohol in a person's blood to support a charge of operating a motor vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in excess of 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood. The evidentiary instruments used for this purpose must be court-acceptable instruments, also known as Approved Instruments, which are named by Order of the Attorney General of Canada. One such instrument recently added to the Approved Breath Analysis Instruments Order (2009), the Intox EC/IR II, has been selected by many Canadian police agencies to replace aging instruments presently used. The purpose of this study was to look at the correlation between the BAC as determined from breath analysis on this recently approved instrument and the near simultaneous results from whole blood collection and analysis from volunteer drinking subjects. The results suggest that breath testing with the Intox EC/IR II underestimates the true BAC. (Published Abstract)