| Title | Evaluating Transdermal Alcohol Measuring Devices |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 26700 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Marques, Paul R.; McKnight, A. Scott |
| Source | v, 86p. in various pagings : ill. (some col.) |
| Corporate Creator | Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation |
| Corporate Contributor |
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Publisher | United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Publication Date | 20071100 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | This report is an evaluation study of two types of transdermal devices that detect alcohol at the skin surface representing two types of electrochemical sensing technology. The AMS SCRAM™ ankle device and the Giner WrisTAS™ wrist device were worn concurrently for the evaluation by 22 paid research subjects (15 males, 7 females), for a combined total of 96 weeks. Each subject participated in both laboratory drinking to .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) BAC and normal drinking on their own. A total of 271 drinking episodes with BAC =.02 g/dL were logged: 60 were from laboratory dosing, and 211 were from self-dosed drinking. Both devices detected alcohol at the skin surface. The SCRAM™ unit has security features and automated reporting protocols that make it suitable for the offender market, whereas the WrisTAS™ unit is a research prototype that has had trials as an aid to detection for alcohol treatment settings. Neither unit had false-positive problems when true BAC was <.02 g/dL. False negatives were defined as TAC (transdermal alcohol concentration) response <.02 g/dL when true BAC =.02 g/dL. Overall, the true-positive hit rate detected by WrisTAS™ was 24 percent. The low detection rate for the WrisTAS™ was largely due to those devices’ erratic output or not recording during nearly 67 percent of all episodes. SCRAM™ correctly detected 57 percent across all BAC events, with another 22 percent (total 79%) detected, but as <.02 g/dL. SCRAM™ devices were more accurate earlier than later in the trials they may have had problems with water accumulation that reduced sensitivity. When subjects dosed themselves to BAC = .08 g/dL, SCRAM™ correctly detected 88 percent of these events. The report summarizes comments from research subjects, offenders, and vendors who manage transdermal detection programs. |
| Rosap ID | dot:1793 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1793 |
| TRT Terms | Blood alcohol levels; Measuring instruments; Equipment tests; Performance; Accuracy; Human subject testing |
| General Subjects | Impaired driving, Alcohol; DWI enforcement; Transdermal alcohol testing |
| Classification | NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors; NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - LAWS AND REGULATIONS |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
01088279 |
| Contract Number | DTNH22-02-D-95121 |
| Report Number | DOT-HS-810-875 |
| Availability | NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research |
| Resource type | Research Paper |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/26000/26700/26700/Evaluating_Transdermal_Alcohol_Measuring_Devices_DOT_HS_810_875_November_2007.pdf |
| Alternative URL | http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Articles/Associated%20Files/810875.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |