Citation

Hodgson BT, Taylor MD. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 2001; 34(3): 95-101.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.2001.10757520

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Alcotest 7110 MKIII Dual C breath alcohol analyzer (MKIII Dual C) was evaluated according to the CSFS Alcohol Test Committee (ATC) standards (1998) for approved instruments. The MKIII Dual C uses two detectors: infrared (IR) at 9.5 μm and an electrochemical sensor (EC). Vapours from aqueous acetone solutions of 5, 10 and 50 milligrams in 100 millilitres of solution did not produce any readings other than zero on the instrument. Vapours from aqueous solutions of acetaldehyde, methanol, isopropanol, toluene, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether were blown into the MKIII Dual C to determine potential interference with the operation of the instrument. The instrument registered an "Interference" result with acetaldehyde, methanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether while toluene registered as a zero reading. The instrument's performance exceeded the ATC criteria for precision and accuracy when tested with vapours from aqueous alcohol solutions designed to simulate blood alcohol concentrations in the range of 50 to 350 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Human subject testing (n = 11) showed a correlation with two Approved Instruments (BAC Datamaster C and Intoxilyzer®5000C) that exceeded the ATC criteria.