Medica Jadertina, Vol. 38 No. 1-2, 2008.
Professional paper
Reliability of breath alcohol testing with Dräger Alcotest 7410Plus analyzer in a court process
Zdravko Kovačić
; Zagreb University Faculty of Medicine Forensic Medicine and Criminology Institute
Marina Nestić
; Zagreb University Faculty of Medicine, Forensic Medicine and Criminology Institute
Valter Stemberga
; Rijeka Faculty of Medicine Forensic Medicine Institute
Alan Bosnar
; Rijeka Faculty of Medicine Forensic Medicine Institute
Marko Petrovečki
; Zagreb Faculty of Medicine student
Davorka Sutlović
orcid.org/0000-0002-0102-7251
; Split Clinic Hospital Center, Forensic Medicine Clinic Department
Abstract
The aim is to determine the usefulness and reliability of breath alcohol tests performed with Dräger Alcotest 7410Plus analyzer, in comparison to more complex analysis methods of blood and urine alcohol testing. A total of 570 cases were taken from archival court evidence material. In all cases, individuals were driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), and breath alcohol tests performed with Dräger Alcotest 7410Plus analyzer were positive. After breath alcohol testing, all individuals underwent repeated blood and urine alcohol testing, but this time concentrations were measured by headspace gas chromatography. In all individuals alcohol was in its elimination phase. The results obtained from both experiments were evaluated
and compared.
Comparison of breath alcohol concentration and blood alcohol concentration calculated to the time of breath alcotest, showed that 30 of 570 individuals (5.3%) were not within 95% predicament range,
according to the linear equation CBAC ± 0.307 = 0.093 + 1.022CBrAC.
Legal classification of being under the influence of alcohol refers to blood alcohol concentration, not breath alcohol concentration. Therefore it is not plausible to define the state of alcohol influence using Dräger Alcotest 7410Plus analyzer.
Keywords
Dräger Alcotest 7410Plus; breath alcohol concentration (BrAC); blood alcohol concentration (BAC); forensic toxicology; court process
Hrčak ID:
22836
URI
Publication date:
5.5.2008.
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