8
9
Important Notes on Test Execution and Self-assess-
ment
After the last sip of alcohol, you should wait at least
15 minutes, as there may still be residual alcohol in the
oral cavity, which influences the measurement result.
Also smoking should be avoided before a test, as ciga-
rette smoke harms the sensor.
For each test you should use a new mouthpiece – not
only for hygienic reasons, but also because an already
used mouthpiece can influence the next measurement
result. The mouthpiece could contain residual alcohol,
which would affect the new test result when the same
mouthpiece is used again (this for example could show
an alcoholization of a person who hasn`t drunken any
alcohol).
If „FLOW“ or „FLo“ appears on the display, the given bre-
ath sample was insufficient or ended too soon. Blow into
the mouthpiece for about 4 seconds constantly (without
a break) – preferably as if you were whistling without
a sound.
If the same person performs 2 tests consecutively, then
wait at least 3 minutes between the two tests, as a too
short waiting time may cause different measurement re-
sults. The air exhaled from the lungs is, after a test, no
longer enriched with the same alcohol content as in the
previous test. Therefore, an immediate second test will
indicate a lower test result.
All measured values determined with this breathalyzer
are always indicative and not legally binding.
Why the Estimated Alcoholization and the Measure-
ment Result in most Cases cannot match
An alcohol test is affected by a lot of different factors
which also affect the test result. Beside the gender, age,
body size and body weight, also the body fat percenta-
ge and the amount of body fluid have a big influence.
In addition, the general physical and mental state or the
current daily constitution have to be taken into consi-
deration. Furthermore, the meals eaten before a breath
test (type of content and level of the stomach) and the
intake of medication may influence the measurement.
Other influencing factors are, of course, the type of
drink (percentage of alcohol content in the beverage
and its carbon dioxide and sugar content), the drinking
rate and the individual subject‘s duration of alcohol
build-up or degradation in the body.
Some people quickly have a high alcohol content in the
blood, with other people it takes longer until an alco-
holization is detected. About 40-50% of the consumed
alcohol is in the body within 15 minutes, after 30 minu-
tes it is 65% and after 70 minutes the previously consu-
med alcohol is 100% absorbed in the body. However, it
should also be noted that some people – partly due to
genetic factors – quickly reduce the alcohol content in
the blood, whereas others still have an increased alco-
hol content in the blood after a longer period of time.