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	Alcohol frequently asked Questions and Answers

		How does the disposable alcohol breath detector work?

		The disposable alcohol breath tester is a relatively simple device designed to show if one is above or below a defined Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC) — usually the legal driving limit. It operates on the principle that air containing alcohol when passed through it, causes the crystals to change from yellow to green. The volume of breath passed through the tube is fixed — so the length of the green colour change indicates the amount of alcohol present. The line calibrated on each tube is set to coincide with the length of green colour change associated with an alcohol concentration at the legal driving limit. So when one blows a breath sample containing more alcohol than the legal limit — the green colour change will move beyond the line — and one containing less alcohol will produce a green colour change which does not reach the line.

		What is the relationship of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) with Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC)?


		It is commonly known from the accumulation of data around the world that there is a close relationship between breath alcohol concentration and blood alcohol concentration taken at the same time. It is most important to realise however, that this applies to the population as a whole. Many data bases exist which show this correlation — and for example in France it can be shown that the ratio is 1:2100. From the national statistics a person with a Blood Alcohol Concentration(BAC) of 0.5g/L should have a Breath Alcohol Concentration(BrAC) of 0.24 mg/L and vice versa. These data bases show quite clearly that individuals differ, sometimes by quite a bit and it would be incorrect to assume that an individual with a BrAC of 0.24 mg/L therefore has a BAC of 0.5g/L BAC.

		When testing the accuracy of a breath testing device it is inappropriate to compare the results of individual breath test results with blood concentrations.

		It is the experience in most countries around the world that blood alcohol concentration has been used in matters relating to road safety legislation etc. Breath testing as legal evidence is relatively new — and there is a tendency to link the two because of the close association that exists. It is important to remember that the U-Test tester is a breath testing device — and that the results only indicate the blood alcohol concentration.

		Are there any substances other than alcohol which affect the testers?


		Claims are often made after a test has shown to be positive, that something other than alcohol has recently been eaten or drunk which caused the tester to show positive.

		Certain medicines do contain alcohol in small quantities - and it is possible that someone who has recently swallowed such medicine will show positive in a test because the medicine is still fresh in his mouth and throat. The amount of alcohol contained in medicines is normally so small that it is unlikely to indicate positively after it has been absorbed by the body.

		Similarly breath fresheners, chewing gums etc which may contain substances which react with the chemicals, are quickly dispelled from the mouth and not ingested into the system — so it is important not to test immediately after substances have been in the mouth. Allow some time to elapse before testing the breath for alcohol which comes from the lungs.

		The chemical reaction in U-Test testers is the one most commonly used internationally by chemical breath alcohol testing equipment. However we do not make claims that the device is infallible - and for this reason where the results of a case are serious (such as dismissal) your evidence should not be based on the results of a breath test alone.

		U-Test testers have been used in the industrial safety arena for many years - and under varied circumstances. The product is used in factories ranging from breweries to glue manufacturers -where the issue has often been raised regarding the tester reacting positively to substances other than alcohol. Whenever there has been a case causing serious doubt we have recommended that the test should be repeated and carefully

		monitored. If the cause of the query is medicine -conduct another test using the same medicine - but allow sufficient time to elapse for the dissipation of the medicine in the throat and mouth. If the query is solvent related - conduct another test under the same circumstances - or on other employees under the same circumstances.

		How is the test affected by a party the night before?


		A commonly used rule of thumb by many medical organisations is that the body "on average" eliminates approximately one "drink" per hour. This obviously differs from one individual to another and is generally also affected by the total amount consumed - as the liver itself slows down when presented with too much alcohol. It is therefore quite possible for a person tested some time after consuming alcohol to show positive. It is significant to note that the road traffic ordinances and factory safety legislation does not concern itself with WHEN the alcohol was consumed - or whether it came out of a beer bottle or a cough mixture bottle.

		Can the testers be kept as evidence - and for how long?


		After administering the test we recommend that the results should be witnessed within a few minutes, the testimony of the witness recorded and the test disposed. In addition a digital photo on date recording setting maybe taken. If this is not possible the tester may be kept as evidence for no longer than twelve hours after which the chemical absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and —becomes so wet that the green colour change creeps and fades in the tube. It should be remembered that the chemicals contain very powerful oxidising agents and if allowed to drip out of the tube will cause damage to files, skin or clothes.

How can we be sure that the tester is working properly?

For a tester not to work, the chemicals inside the tube would somehow have been oxidised before the test. This can happen if the tube had been accidentally opened or exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period. Evidence of that can usually be clearly seen before the test - if it has been opened the chemicals would be wet and if it had already been oxidised the chemicals would be discoloured - normally green - before the test. This is in fact an advantage of using a chemical tester. With many of the electronic testers one never knows if it is working properly. This question is often asked when a tester is used after the "Use By date". This date is normally 2 years after the product leaves the factory and is considered to be conservatively safe for normal storage conditions. If the product is carefully stored it is possible that the testers will work properly well after the "use by" date. The very fact that a tester turns green in the presence of alcohol means that the chemicals are still active. If the chemicals were truly inactive due to a age - then there would be no reaction when someone blew through the tube with alcohol on his breath.

What about safety legislation?

In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act an employer may not allow a person under the - influence of alcohol to be in a position where he is a danger to himself or his colleagues. The onus is on the employer to act in this regard. However where an employer finds an employee under the influence he should be careful that his actions are in accordance with commonly accepted "fair" labour practices. Most commonly accepted labour practices include carefully prepared disciplinary procedures in terms of which the consequences of intoxication are clearly specified. Many of the cases which have ended up in the industrial courts have revolved around the fact that the employer failed to adequately show that the employee was incompetent ( even when blood samples showed high concentrations of alcohol ) - or that dismissal was regarded as unfair on first offence - or where the effects of intoxication were not considered dangerous.

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