Alcohawk AlcoHAWK ABI Owner's Manual - Page 2

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Overview

The AlcoHawk

ABI is a breath alcohol screening device designed to

test for the presence of alcohol in the blood. This device is intended to

be used in all populations with lung capacity capable of producing at

least 1.5 liters of expired air. The AlcoHawk

volt battery that generally lasts between 200-300 tests when using an

alkaline battery.

Alcohol Testing Theory

Ethyl alcohol is detectable in the breath because it is absorbed from

the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. When

blood ﬂows through the lungs, some of the alcohol passes across the

membranes of tiny lung air sacs (alveoli) into the air. The concentration

of the alcohol in the alveolar air is proportional to the alcohol in the

blood. As the alcohol in the alveolar air is exhaled, it can be screened

by a breath alcohol testing device. Rather than drawing a subject's

blood to test for alcohol level, a subject's breath can be tested using a

breath alcohol testing device. Because breath alcohol concentration

(BAC) is related to the percentage of alcohol in the individual's blood,

the BAC can be calculated by measuring alcohol content on the breath.

The ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol is 2,100:1. This means that

2100 milliliters of alveolar air will contain the same amount of alcohol

as 1 millimeter of blood. This concept is well established by Henry's

Law, which states that the concentration of a volatile substance in

the air above a ﬂuid is proportional to the concentration of the volatile

substance in the ﬂuid.

When performing a breath alcohol test, it is necessary to analyze an

alveolar or deep lung air sample. If the test sample is not based on a

ABI is powered by a 9

deep lung sample, the sample analyzed could be diluted with breath of a

lower alcohol concentration from the upper respiratory tract. This would

result in a lower than optimum test result. As a result, breath alcohol

testers listed on the Department of Transportation (DOT), National

Highway Trafﬁc Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Conforming Products

List of Screening Devices To Measure Alcohol in Bodily Fluids, typically

have protocols which require the subject to deliver at least 1.5 liters, or

continuous blowing into the unit for least ﬁve (5) seconds.

the testing can be aborted or marked as unacceptable.

Federal Register: May 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 87)

Otherwise,