ACE Instruments ACE X Notice D'utilisation page 5

Important notes on test execution and self-assessment
After the last sip of alcohol you should wait at least 15 minutes, as there may still be resi-
dual alcohol in the oral cavity, which influences the measurement result. Also smoking
should be avoided before a test, as cigarette smoke harms the sensor.
For each test you should use a new mouthpiece – not only for hygienic reasons, but
also because an already used mouthpiece can influence the next measurement result.
The mouthpiece could contain residual alcohol, which would affect the new test result
when the same mouthpiece is used again (this for example could show an alcoholiza-
tion of a person who hasn`t drunken any alcohol).
If „BLOW ERROR" appears on the display, the given breath sample was insufficient or
ended too soon. Blow into the moutpiece for about 4 seconds constantly (without a
break) – preferably as if you were whistling without a sound.
If the same person performs 2 tests consecutively, then wait at least 3 minutes between
the two tests, as a too short waiting time may cause different measurement results. The
air exhaled from the lungs is, after a test, no longer enriched with the same alcohol
content as in the previous test. Therefore, an immediate second test will indicate a
lower test result.
All measured values determined with this breathalyzer are always indicative and not
legally binding.
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Why the estimated alcoholization and the measurement result in most cases cannot
match
An alcohol test is affected by a lot of different factors which also affect the test result.
Beside the gender, age, body size and body weight, also the body fat percentage and
the amount of body fluid have a big influence.
In addition, the general physical and mental state or the current daily constitution have
to be taken into consideration. Furthermore, the meals eaten before a breath test (type
of content and level of the stomach) and the intake of medication may influence the
measurement.
Other influencing factors are, of course, the type of drink (percentage of alcohol con-
tent in the beverage and its carbon dioxide and sugar content), the drinking rate and
the individual subject's duration of alcohol build-up or degradation in the body.
Some people quickly have a high alcohol content in the blood, with other people it
takes longer until an alcoholization is detected. About 40-50% of the consumed alco-
hol is in the body within 15 minutes, after 30 minutes it is 65% and after 70 minutes the
previously consumed alcohol is 100% absorbed in the body. However, it should also be
noted that some people – partly due to genetic factors – quickly reduce the alcohol
content in the blood, whereas others still have an increased alcohol content in the
blood after a longer period of time.
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