“Breathalyzer Buying Guide: 9 Things You Should Know About Personal Breathalyzers”
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BreathKey Frequently Asked Questions
What is the accuracy of the BreathKey?
BreathKey Accuracy
The accuracy of the BreathKey is ±.010% BAC at .080% BAC. This means that on average the BAC (blood alcohol content) reading from the BreathKey will be within .010% of your true BAC level, if your true BAC level is .080%.
By comparison, the breathalyzers used by law enforcement officials have an accuracy of ±.005% BAC at .080% BAC, according to the standards set by the Department of Transportation.
If a breathalyzer is used shortly after drinking, without waiting at least 20 minutes, the alcohol that remains in your mouth may be blown directly into the detector. It will be read at far higher content level than it would if it had passed through the stomach and intestines, into the bloodstream, and then into your exhaled breath.
Most consumer models of breathalyzers are good as an initial screening device for an indication of intoxication levels. But they should not be relied upon for determining if an individual is too impaired to drive. Physical impairment can begin at alcohol levels as low as .040% BAC, so just because you are below the legal limit, it does not meant that you are safe to drive. Only you can make that determination. And using a breathalyzer of any kind will not relieve an individual of responsibility should he or she be pulled over for possible drunken driving. Remember that it is always safest when you do not drink any amount of alcohol and drive.
Having said that, breathalyzers can offer some extremely valuable information if used over a span of time. The way to get the most from your breathalyzer is to use it regularly to monitor the change in your level of intoxication, rather than looking at a single specific reading. Everyone is different, and factors such as how much food you have eaten, how much you weigh and even your metabolic rate can dramatically affect the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into your body.
And remember that the results of any breathalyzer test on their own cannot ensure that it is safe for you to drive. Since everyone varies with how they respond to alcohol, only you can make the determination as to how safe you really are.
