Chemical Principles behind Breathscan Alcohol Testers
Here's the principle upon which the BreathScan alcohol detector works: the ethyl alcohol in the
blood escapes through the lung tissue into the exhaled breath. The presence of ethyl
alcohol in the breath is detectable by a color change of very sensitive chemically coated
crystals contained in the BreathScan tester. The BreathScan alcohol detector keeps
the chemically coated crystals fresh in a hermetically sealed ampoule until the test is to
be administered. Immediately prior to use, the ampoule is ruptured by slight finger
pressure on the outer flexible clear tube to release crystals within the confines of the
tube. When the subject exhales into the tube, the fresh crystals interact with breath
vapor and change color from yellow to blue green, if alcohol is present.
If all the crystals
change color completely, this indicates that the subject's blood alcohol level is at or
above the level indicated on the tester label. Testers that measure alcohol levels of
.02%, .04%, .05%, and .08% are available.
The crystals in the BreathScan alcohol tester are unaffected by heat and cold and the
shelf life is 3 years. Each tester can be used until the glass ampoule inside the tester is
broken.
The BreathScan alcohol detector has been shown to be superior to any other
disposable alcohol tester available today. Strict quality control ensures that each tester is
properly calibrated, giving the user assurance of consistent tester results. No other tester
is easier to use.