NTL Record

Title Laboratory Testing of Alcoscan Saliva-Alcohol Test Strips
Record ID 26682
Personal Name
Creator
Frank, James F.; Flores, Arthur L.
Source 18 p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian Research
Publisher United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 19861000
Language English
Abstract This report describes a laboratory evaluation of Alcoscan saliva-alcohol test strips. The objectives of this work were: (1) to determine the precision and accuracy of the Alcoscan strips; and (2) to determine what effect extreme ambient temperatures have on test strip performance. The strips were saturated with alcohol-spiked saliva samples ranging in concentration from 0.03% - 0.12% BAC. In a highway safety context, the high variability in BACestimates obtained, coupled with a high proportion of false positives, suggest that this technology is not satisfactory as a screening device for law enforcement. Use by private individuals appears more promising, if the device is not used at low ambient temperatures. At room temperature and above, the chance is relatively low that the rating will falsely indicate that an individual is below the legal limit when he is not. However, given the large variability in rating accuracy at all BAClevels, the utility of the device, even for private citizens, is subject to question. /Abstract from report summary page/
Rosap ID dot:1784
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1784
TRT Terms Alcohols; Laboratory tests; Accuracy; Saliva; Blood alcohol levels; Temperature
General Subjects DWI enforcement
Classification NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - LAWS AND REGULATIONS;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
00490724
Contract Number TSC-PPA-634
Report Number DOT-HS-807-059
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center; NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/26000/26600/26682/DOT_HS_807_059.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository