PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: BALLOON-TYPE BREATH ALCOHOL SELF TESTER FOR PERSONAL USE

The accuracy of the only breath alcohol balloon-type self test device being marketed for personal use (Luckey Laboratories DM-2) was assessed in the laboratory. Data regarding this self-test device's ability to accurately classify an individual as having 0.10% (or higher) Breath Alcohol Concentration level are reported. This level was selected because it is the legal per se limit for operating a motor vehicle in many states. The results indicate that, at optimal environmental test temperatures (around 75 deg F), a large proportion of individuals with BACs at or above this level would be inaccurately classified as below 0.10%. Also, at more moderate test temperatures (around 60 deg F), the extent of inaccurate classifications and the degree of underestimation of the actual BAC level increases substantially.