Candidate: Chris C. Clatterbuck

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Title: The Impact of Systematically Varying the Duration of Breath Samples During Infrared-based Alcohol Breath Testing

Committee:
Dr. Robert L. Betz, Chair
Dr. Mary Z. Anderson 
Dr. David J. Hartmann
Dr. C. Dennis Simpson

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2002, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
3208 Sangren Hall

Abstract:
This study set out to investigate the reliability and performance of the BAC DataMasterâ an infrared-based alcohol breath testing instrument. The focus of this study was to determine 1) the impact of varying breath sample duration during testing, 2) if Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels produced the DataMasterâ (BAC_DM) are significantly different from BAC levels produced by laboratory analysis of whole blood (BAC_WB), and 3) if the relationship between BAC_DM estimates and BAC_WB is influenced by the amount of alcohol an examinee has ingested.

Each of 27 participants was randomly assigned to one of three, alcohol intake groups; high intake BAC=.10g/210ml; medium intake BAC=.8g/210ml; or low alcohol intake BAC=.06g/210ml. Participants ingested 100 proof vodka in six drinks spaced at ten-minute intervals. Total alcohol intake was 2.36 ml of alcohol per 1 kg of body weight (high intake), 2.00 ml per 1 kg of body weight (medium intake), or 1.64 ml of alcohol per 1 kg of body weight (low intake).    After alcohol ingestion and a 45- minute absorption period, participants provided the researcher with blood and breath samples.

Six breath samples were collected from each participant. Two breaths under each of the follow breath duration conditions: Condition 1--short duration exhale, (SDE); Condition 2--medium duration exhale, (MDE); and Condition 3--long duration exhale, (LDE). Pre- and post-breath testing blood samples were analyzed at a local laboratory and BAC_WB results were compared to BAC_DM estimates.

Two major findings emerged from this research. First significant differences were found to exist between BAC_DM estimates and BAC_WB  results, specifically, BAC_DM estimates appear to underestimated BAC_WB results. Second, BAC_DM estimates are significantly affected by the duration of breath samples. In general BAC_DM estimates computed from SDE breath samples are lower then BAC_DM estimates computed from LDE breath samples. This effect was seen across all alcohol intake groups, but was most significant in the high alcohol intake group. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations for improving testing procedures are offered.

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