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Intelligent Fingerprinting™ FAQ
How does this work?
What are its advantages?
It is difficult to use?
Which drugs will it detect?
Does it really take only minutes?
How accurate is it?
What is the window of detection?
Should I be concerned about cross contamination?
Is Intelligent Fingerprinting available now?
How much does it cost?
Pricing of the device and the sample collection cartridges will depend on customer requirements and will vary depending upon the number of tests being carried out. The overall cost of carrying out a test will compare favorably with existing drug screens of similar complexity.
Feel free to contact us with specific pricing questions.
What size of particle is this measuring?
How many picograms of drug metabolite are needed for a valid sample?
Do you have FDA approval?
How else could the device be used?
Will liquid ingested adulterants affect the test sample?
No.
What is the approximate analysis time per drug?
Common Breathalyzer Myths
Myth: Chewing gum, breath mints, or mouthwash mask the alcohol
While these might help you convince your buddy that you haven’t been drinking, they don’t prevent a breathalyzer from detecting your intoxication. In the case of mouthwash, it might even contain some alcohol, in which case your BrAC can register even higher.
Myth: Sucking on a penny can beat a breathalyzer
Myth: Smokers register lower on breathalyzers
There is something to this, but not much. While cheap semiconductor oxide sensing breathalizers might be affected if you have just partaken in some chain-smoking, this won’t affect more accurate fuel cell sensor breathalyzers, and wouldn’t matter anyway unless you just smoke a lot.
Myth: Putting a battery in your mouth beats a breathalyzer
Shipping FAQ
Do you accept purchase orders?
How long does it take for my order to arrive?
Orders placed by 3:30 pm Central Standard Time will usually ship the same business day. If you need a delivery by a specific date including next day shipping, please choose one of the UPS shipping options from the drop down bar during checkout.
Please allow additional transit time for during weekends and holidays and to some rural areas. Also, please note that UPS next day air and 2nd day air orders will not be delivered on weekends. UPS only delivers orders on regular business days. (Monday – Friday)
What shipping carriers does Smartox™ use?
I live outside the United States. Does Smartox™ ship international orders? How much will it cost?
My order arrived damaged. What should I do?
What is the return policy at Smartox™?
Any item may be returned within 30 days of purchase for a refund, minus a 15% shipping and restocking fee. Also, any item that is not working properly and is still within a warranty period may be returned for an exchange.
Contact us or call 888.711.9906 and we’ll be glad to assist you.
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
If you didn’t find your answer in this Frequently Asked Questions section, feel free to send us a note using our contact form.
Breathalyzer FAQ
Why do I need a personal breathalyzer?
What is calibration? Why do I need it?
Breathalyzers need to be calibrated at the recommended, regular intervals to ensure their ongoing accuracy. Calibration is the process of checking and adjusting the internal settings of a breathalyzer by comparing and adjusting its test results to a known and controlled alcohol standard. All breathalyzers, including professional and law enforcement breathalyzers, must undergo calibration regularly.
Calibration involves specialised equipment and factory-trained technicians capable of calibrating a breathalyzer to the highest stnadards. It is not a procedure that can be conducted at home or by untrained users.
You must calibrate your breathalyzer to maintain its accuracy. Otherwise, your breathalyzer will provide false readings.
Note that calibration is not included as a warranty service and incurs extra charges based on the unit.
What type of technology makes these devices work?
All breathalyzers sold by us are of high quality and accurate products, and meet the standards of FDA 510(k) cleared devices, which means that the product has been deemed “safe and effective” for consumer use. All of the devices that we offer have electrochemical fuel cell sensor (alcohol specific) technology.
These devices offer the following benefits
- They will not show a false positive for someone who is diabetic or on a low calorie diet. Semiconductor models will sometimes show a false positive result for these individuals.
- They provide more accurate and more consistent results as compared with semi-conductor models. For example, you are more likely to show the same test result when you test someone repeatedly in a very short period of time. In addition, they are more accurate at higher BrAC concentrations, compared to semiconductor models, which often lose accuracy at higher BrAC values.
- They can remain accurate for up to thousands of tests.
- They provide more precise readings since %BrAC readings are displayed to the thousandth decimal place (0.054%) versus to the hundredth decimal place (0.05%).
Breathalyzers that utilize fuel cell sensors typically sell for over $450; however, this technology is becoming more affordable.
Which model is right for me?
What factors are important in choosing a breathalyzer?
Accuracy is likely the most important factor when making a breathalyzer purchase, so you should consider the Sensor Type – Semiconductor versus Fuel Cell Versus Semi-conductor versus Fuel Cell. Fuel cell sensors will give much more accurate readings than semiconductors being that the sensors are alcohol specific.
FDA Approval is another important requirement to consider when choosing a breathalyzer. Every personal breathalyzer sold through our site meets the standards of a FDA 510(k) cleared device, which means the product has been deemed “safe and effective” for consumer use.
Breath Sample Collection is an essential factor, and critical to an accurate breathalyzer reading. While the use of mouthpieces is one element that aids in obtaining breath samples that exclude external air, other aids to accuracy are found in the actual product design.
Lastly, you should look at the Brand of Breathalyzer you are purchasing. The manufacturer should be reputable, in the business of selling breathalyzers, specifically, for an extended period of time.
How does a breathalyzer work?
What is %BrAC?
Breath Alcohol Content or Breath Alcohol Concentration, abbreviated BrAC, is the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath. BrAC is most commonly used as a metric of intoxication for legal or medical purposes, and it’s usually measured as mass per volume. For example, a BrAC of 0.05% means 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of a person’s breath, or 0.5 grams of alcohol per 1000 grams of blood.
Factors that affect your BrAC include the following
- Age – As you age, the intoxicating effects of alcohol become increasingly pronounced.
- Gender – Alcohol is highly water soluble. Because women generally have lower water content in their bodies than men, they usually reach a higher BrAC if they consume alcohol at a similar rate to their male counterparts, even if they are the same age and weight. Women also have a lower quantity of an enzyme in their stomachs that breaks down alcohol than men.
- Rate of Consumption – The faster you consume alcohol, the faster your BrAC will rise.
- Drink Strength – The more alcohol a drink contains, the more will end up in your bloodstream.
- Body Type – The more you weigh, the more water you tend to have in your body, which has a diluting effect on the alcohol you consume. That’s why larger people usually require more drinks to “keep pace” with their smaller companions.
- Fat/Muscle Content – Fatty tissue is low in water content and cannot absorb alcohol, and the alcohol must remain in the bloodstream until the liver can break it down. However, tissues that are higher in water content, such as muscle, do absorb alcohol. Hence BrAC will usually be higher in the person with more body fat.
- Metabolism – “Metabolic tolerance” varies from person to person and describes the rate at which alcohol is processed by the body.
- Emotional State – Stress can cause your body to divert blood from your stomach and small intestines to your muscles, and slow down the rate of absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. When you calm down and your blood flows normally again, you may experience a surge in your BrAC.
- Medications – Many medications react negatively with alcohol, including cold or allergy pills and prescription drugs. They can intensify the effects of alcohol and even endanger your health. If you are taking meds, check the product labels for alcohol warnings, or consult your doctor or pharmacist before you drink.
- Food – If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, your BAC will be higher than a person who has eaten before drinking. Food slows the absorption in your bloodstream by keeping the alcohol you consume in your stomach and for a longer period of time.
- Carbonation – Carbonated drinks such as sparkling wine or champagne, or mixed drinks with sodas may increase the rate at which alcohol passes through your stomach and result in a higher BrAC.
- Diabetes – Alcohol can affect the glucose levels of people who have diabetes and cause hypoglycemia. Diabetics should consult their doctors about drinking alcohol and avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
- Alcohol Intolerance – Alcohol may cause adverse reactions in some, including flushing of the skin, nasal congestion, elevated heart rate, and reduced blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, alcohol intolerance is caused by a “genetic condition in which the body is unable to break down alcohol.”
Am I safe to drive if my breathalyzer shows that I'm under the legal limit?
Is a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) the only factor in determining whether or not a DUI is given?
Who invented the breathalyzer?
Is there any way to trick a breathalyzer?
No, only time will bring your BrAC level down on a fuel cell sensor breathalyzer device.
How accurate are breathalyzers?
Can breathalyzer results be used in court?
Can a breathalyzer prove intoxication in court?
It depends on the type of breathalyzer. Professional-grade portable units used in roadside sobriety tests are quite accurate, but are still not used as sole proof of intoxication. Their results are used in combination with a coordination test and other symptoms to establish a full pattern of intoxicated symptoms.
However, non-portable breathalyzers, such as done at a police station or hospital, are much more accurate, and can hold their own muster as court evidence.