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Practical and physiological aspects of breath alcohol analysis

Grubb, David LU (2013) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2013:27.
Abstract
Breath alcohol analysis constitutes sufficient material for the prosecution of drunk driving without the need for blood analysis. However, the prevailing method used for breath analysis lacks standardization of several physiological variables that cause a variation of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). In this thesis, a novel analyzer which standardizes the BrAC to the water vapour concentration was used to investigate different aspects of breath analysis.

In study I the BrAC-profile and elimination rate of mouth alcohol (MA), a potential source of error, was investigated. It was concluded that the BrAC-profile is an unreliable means to detect MA and that the elimination rate is independent of blood alcohol. In study II the... (More)
Breath alcohol analysis constitutes sufficient material for the prosecution of drunk driving without the need for blood analysis. However, the prevailing method used for breath analysis lacks standardization of several physiological variables that cause a variation of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). In this thesis, a novel analyzer which standardizes the BrAC to the water vapour concentration was used to investigate different aspects of breath analysis.

In study I the BrAC-profile and elimination rate of mouth alcohol (MA), a potential source of error, was investigated. It was concluded that the BrAC-profile is an unreliable means to detect MA and that the elimination rate is independent of blood alcohol. In study II the precision of breath and blood analysis was compared and the relationship between breath and blood alcohol concentrations was investigated. It was shown that the precision of breath and blood analysis was equally good and that there was a stable relationship between the breath and blood alcohol concentrations from 30 minutes and onward after alcohol administration. In study III the mechanisms of alcohol exchange within the lungs were investigated. The results implied that there is a significant exchange of alcohol with the conducting airways and that this exchange causes a relatively low BrAC in the early absorption phase. In study IV the analytical performance of BrAC-measurements by standardization to water vapour was determined. The method complies with standards for evidential breath testing and allows analysis without mouth piece with a nearly intact accuracy and precision. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Hahn, Robert, Linköping University
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Breath alcohol analysis, Mouth alcohol, Analytical performance, Blood breath ratio, Alcohol exchange, Standardization, Contact free analysis.
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
volume
2013:27
pages
133 pages
publisher
Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
defense location
Rune Grubb-salen, Sölvegatan 19, BMC, Lund.
defense date
2013-03-15 13:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-87189-96-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e03f4e60-7f38-4379-a02d-53019db34348 (old id 3513153)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:43:05
date last changed
2019-05-22 06:22:52
@phdthesis{e03f4e60-7f38-4379-a02d-53019db34348,
  abstract     = {{Breath alcohol analysis constitutes sufficient material for the prosecution of drunk driving without the need for blood analysis. However, the prevailing method used for breath analysis lacks standardization of several physiological variables that cause a variation of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). In this thesis, a novel analyzer which standardizes the BrAC to the water vapour concentration was used to investigate different aspects of breath analysis. <br/><br>
In study I the BrAC-profile and elimination rate of mouth alcohol (MA), a potential source of error, was investigated. It was concluded that the BrAC-profile is an unreliable means to detect MA and that the elimination rate is independent of blood alcohol. In study II the precision of breath and blood analysis was compared and the relationship between breath and blood alcohol concentrations was investigated. It was shown that the precision of breath and blood analysis was equally good and that there was a stable relationship between the breath and blood alcohol concentrations from 30 minutes and onward after alcohol administration. In study III the mechanisms of alcohol exchange within the lungs were investigated. The results implied that there is a significant exchange of alcohol with the conducting airways and that this exchange causes a relatively low BrAC in the early absorption phase. In study IV the analytical performance of BrAC-measurements by standardization to water vapour was determined. The method complies with standards for evidential breath testing and allows analysis without mouth piece with a nearly intact accuracy and precision.}},
  author       = {{Grubb, David}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-87189-96-8}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Breath alcohol analysis; Mouth alcohol; Analytical performance; Blood breath ratio; Alcohol exchange; Standardization; Contact free analysis.}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Practical and physiological aspects of breath alcohol analysis}},
  volume       = {{2013:27}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}