Urine Alcohol Testing

Although urine alcohol testing will indicate the presence of alcohol in a person's system, it will not indicate an individual's current condition. Once consumed, alcohol enters the blood through the stomach within about 15 minutes, causing immediate impairment. It is then metabolized by the body and, after 1½ to 2 hours, will begin to show up in the urine. Therefore, urine alcohol does not give a true picture of the person's current condition. The results indicate the person's condition several hours before. Additionally, urine alcohol concentration does not directly correspond to blood alcohol concentration.

Urine alcohol concentration will vary depending on the person's metabolism and the amount of fluid in his system. For instance, a person who is slightly dehydrated will tend to have a higher alcohol concentration in his urine than someone who has a normal level of fluid in his system. At least one study has indicated that a false positive for urine alcohol can occur. High levels of sugar and acetone in the body can cause fermentation in the urine, creating a false positive for urine alcohol.

All things considered, the urine alcohol test is the least preferred test available for alcohol testing. Here is the principle upon which the disposable type breathalyzer detector works: the ethyl alcohol in the blood escapes through the lung tissue into the exhaled breath. The presence of ethyl alcohol in the breath is detectable by a color change of very sensitive chemically coated crystals contained in the disposable type breathalyzer tester.

The disposable type breathalyzer alcohol detector keeps the chemically coated crystals fresh in a hermetically sealed ampoule until the test is to be administered. Immediately prior to use, the ampoule is ruptured by slight finger pressure on the outer flexible clear tube to release crystals within the confines of the tube. When the subject exhales into the tube, the fresh crystals interact with breath vapor and change color from yellow to blue, if alcohol is present. If all the crystals change color completely, this indicates that the subject's blood alcohol level is at or over the level being tested for.

The accuracy of this chemical reaction has been scientifically documented, and is the type of reaction which is utilized in legally substantiated test devices used by law enforcement agencies. The disposable type breathalyzer device detects the presence of alcohol as low as .02%, and distinguishes low levels of alcohol from levels in excess of .10% (legal intoxication in many states). The crystals in the disposable type breathalyzer alcohol detector are unaffected by heat and cold and the shelf life is unlimited. Each tester is good until the glass ampoule inside the tester is broken.


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