Use

A considerable weight of evidence exists to indicate that the consumption of alcohol may impair the judgement and reduce the efficiency
of drivers of vehicles. From both the legal and the analytical standpoints it is necessary for Police and Traffic Control Authorities to be in
a position to relate the effects of alcohol consumption to traffic offenses.

A simple way of examining the degree of intoxication is by performing a breath alcohol
test. Sophisticated electronic breath testers are already introduced for evidential breath alcohol analysis in several countries. Other countries
still use blood or urine analysis for evidential purposes.  In both cases, the equipment necessary for the legal test can hardly be
taken in the field. Thus, simple and reliable screening testers should be used on the road, which give the traffic officer an indication, whether the legal limit of alcohol in blood is exceeded or not. Dräger-Alcotest is such a handy screening
tester.

Design and measuring principle A package of Dräger Alcotest-Tubes contains 10 indication tubes, 10 mouthpieces and one breathing bag. Each indication tube and each mouthpiece can
be used for one breath test.

For performing the breath test, the tips of the hermetically sealed indication tube are opened; the tube is then connected to the breathing bag and the mouthpiece in such a way that the arrow, which is printed on the tube, points to the breathing bag. The person to be tested now inflates the bag by exhaling in one breath through the indication tube. If alcohol vapour is present in the exhaled breath, the yellow indication layer present in the Alcotest tube turns green; the discoloration zone being dependent on the breath alcohol concentration.

Immediately after alcohol has been taken a relatively high alcohol concentration is present in the mucous membranes of mouth and throat and in the saliva as well. This »mouth alcohol« would provide a falsely high breath

Advantages to the user

 low-cost measuring-method

 small and handy

 fast and reliable in use

 result cannot be manipulated

 legally approved

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alcohol concentration, when the breath test is performed within 15 minutes after the last drink. After a waiting period of at least 15 minutes the "mouth alcohol“ has disappeared and the true breath alcohol concentration can be measured.

Evaluation of test results

Dräger-Alcotest gives a measure of the alcohol concentration in blood of the subject at the time
of the test. The test results can be read from the tube as follows: On the indication tube an
annular ring is imprinted.

When, in case of using the Alcotest CH 222, the green discoloration zone reaches the annuiar ring, it can be assumed that the alcohol concentration corresponds to 0.5‰ B.A.C.

When, in case of using the Alcotest CH 237, the green discoloration zone reaches the annular ring, it can be assumed that the alcohol concentration corresponds to 0.8‰ B.A.C.

When, in case of using the Alcotest 80 CH 199, the green discoloration zone exceeds the annular ring, it can be assumed that the alcohol concentration exceeds 0.8‰ B.A.C.


Approvals

Alcotest 80 CH 199 Approved by e.g. the Secretary of State for the Home Office and
the Secretary of State for Scotland for the
purpose of the Road Safety Act 1967.

Alcotest CH 237

Approved for use by police forces of e.g: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium.

Alcotest CH 222

Approved for use by police forces of
the Netherlands, Australia, Norway.