FAQ

The device screens for drugs of abuse by analysing chemicals (known as metabolites) contained in the minute traces of sweat found in a fingerprint. Metabolites are produced by the body as a result of normal metabolic processes and can be analysed to identify the substances a person has ingested, inhaled or injected. The presence of drug metabolites in someone’s fingerprint sweat indicates drug use by that individual.

Our drug screening technique is non-invasive and does not require specialized sample collection or biohazard precautions. The device is handheld and ideal for use in almost any location at any time. It provides results in less than 10 minutes and screens for multiple drugs of abuse in one cost-effective disposable test.

The fingerprint sample is obtained on a collection cartridge, the screening device is touchscreen-operated and fully automated.

Initially, the device will screen for five commonly abused groups of drugs: Amphetamines, Benzodiazepines, Cannabis, Cocaine and Opiates.

The device screens for multiple drugs of abuse in less than 10 minutes.

Our technique has been tested to ensure accuracy and precision. The test can be calibrated to different cut-off levels, which means the pass/fail criteria can be altered to different drug levels according to customer requirements.

Our device screens for drugs by analysing fingerprint sweat which gives an indication of an individual’s recent drug use habits.

The technique detects drug metabolites rather than the drugs themselves, so a positive result indicates that the person being screened has taken the drug and not simply touched a surface contaminated with the parent drug.

The device will be available in 2016 for selected applications.

Picogram, measuring to the 1 trillionth of a gram.

This varies between each drug group depending on the cut-off level. It is usually in the 10 to 100 pg picogram range.

We are currently collating technical and design history files prior to seeking FDA approval for the device.

Our fingerprint-based diagnostic technique has potential for use in many other areas such as healthcare, security and border control. Research and development is ongoing in these areas.

This will depend on how many drugs are being tested. Most tests will take less than 10 minutes.

This doesn’t work either, despite the fact that this myth is surprisingly widely-believed.

This one must come from the knowledge that fuel cell breathalyzers operate by using an electrical current after creating a chemical reaction with the your breath. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work, but you might have guess that.

Yes, we do accept purchase orders from businesses. Please contact us for more information on how to submit your Purchase Order to us. All orders invoiced are subject to shipping charges.

All products are shipped via UPS, this ensures the product gets to its destination and is tracked in the meantime.

Yes, we ship to most countries around the world. There are additional charges for international orders which will be displayed at time of checkout. Orders will take longer to reach destinations outside the United States. Shipping costs vary by weight and destination.

Please contact us immediately if any item arrives damaged. We will ship a replacement order to you free of charge.

A Breathalyzer is a valuable purchase to ensure personal safety and the safety of others. An individual may purchase one for self-testing and monitoring for a general understanding of how alcohol affects the body.

Since factors like weight, muscle mass, and recently consumed food or beverages all affect the measurement of person’s breath alcohol content (BrAC), it’s impossible to accurately gauge intoxication level without a measurement tool like a breathalyzer. People are often enlightened when they measure their %BAC, particularly on different occasions after the same amount of alcohol is consumed.

If you are interested in getting the highest level of accuracy in your readings, our recommendation is to spend the extra money on a breathalyzer that uses fuel cell sensor technology. These breathalyzers offer the same advanced technology used by law enforcement for preliminary screenings for a fraction of what they have previously cost. Law enforcement, substance abuse centers, clinics and businesses typically purchase these models, although they are often purchased for individual use too.

Most breathalyzers use one of three technologies to detect Breath Alcohol Content or Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC), which is the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath: a semiconductor oxide sensor, a fuel cell sensor or a spectrophotometer, the latter being the technology used in large, table-top breathalyzers often found at police stations.

Semiconductor oxide-based testers, offer benefits, including low cost, low power consumption and small size. However, Semiconductor oxide based testers require calibration service on a more frequent basis.

Fuel cell testers, In over 30 US states, roadside evidential testing is now permitted using testers using fuel cells. A fuel cell measures alcohol content by creating a chemical reaction that oxidizes the alcohol in the sample and produces an electrical current. The more alcohol that is oxidized, the greater the current. The current is measured to determine the subject’s BrAC.

Spectrophotometer technology is used in large, table-top breathalyzers often found at police stations. Spectrophotometers work by identifying molecules based on the way they absorb infrared light. The level of ethanol in a sample is singled out and measured, and a subject’s alcohol level can then be determined.

Absolutely not. Breathalyzers are for informational purposes only and there is no acceptable level of alcohol consumption that makes it safe to drive. Any alcohol that enters a person’s body can impair reflexes, motor skills, and cognitive abilities.

No, the %BAC is not the only factor considered. Many people do not realize they can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) even if their %BAC is under the legal limit. A person can be charged if they are at or over the “legal limit,” which is .08 %BAC in all 50 US States, or if they are “impaired to any degree,” regardless of the %BAC level.

Though technologies for detecting alcohol vary, it’s widely accepted that Dr. Robert Borkenstein (1912-2002), a captain with the Indiana State Police and later a professor at the University of Indiana, is regarded as the first to create a device that measures a subject’s alcohol level based on a breath sample. In 1954, Borkenstein invented his breathalyzer, that used chemical oxidation and photometry to determine alcohol concentration. The invention of the breathalyzer provided law enforcement with a non-invasive test with immediate result reporting that can be used to determine an individual’s level of intoxication.

Breathalyzers estimate BrAC based on a breath sample, and will not be as accurate as when a sample of blood is tested for alcohol content. However, fuel cell breathalyzers are highly accurate if calibrated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. When used correctly, breathalyzers provide a very close estimate of our BrAC. Every breathalyzer has an accuracy range, usually +/- 0.01%BAC from the given reading. Any breathalyzer that claims 100% accuracy is making a false statement, so don’t bother searching for them.

Results from personal breathalyzers will not be upheld in court, and should be strictly used to increase the awareness of your blood alcohol concentration.

Everyone is affected by alcohol very differently and there are many factors that can affect your BAC reading. Keep in mind that just because you’re under the legal limit doesn’t mean you’re okay to drive. If you don’t feel fine, don’t drive.

Yes you can. To be sanitary we recommend using new, unused mouthpieces to test others. Also, be sure that the other person is using the breathalyzer correctly, i.e. that they have waited at least 15 minutes after the last meal or drink before taking a test.

Breathalyzers cannot detect marijuana, and can generally not detect the usage of other illegal substances. However, there are substances that can interfere with a breathalyzer. Mouthwash or other substances that contain traces of alcohol can result in a higher reading, and invalidate the results. The same can happen for some substances with similar molecular structure to alcohol, such as acetone, paint fumes, and varnish.