There are individuals who drink methanol and isopropanal for their intoxicating properties as well as their ease of attainment. This study looks at the ability of the intoxilyzer 5OOOC to detect non-ethanolic substances in a breath sample. The intoxilyzer 5000C uses infrared technology to measure the amount of ethanol in a breath sample. It measures the absorbance of infrared light at three different wavelengths: 3.39, 3.48 and 3.80 microns. Vapours from simulator solutions containing methanol, isopropanol, ethanol and acetone, alone and in combination, at various concentrations, were tested to check the instrument for specificity. When vapours from simulators containing high concentrations of methanol or isopropanol were introduced methanol or isopropanol were introduced into the instrument, an "interferent" message was produced. Combinations of isopropanol/ethanol, acetone/ethanol and acetone/isopropanol usually produced an "interferent" message. The Intoxilyzer 5000C appeared to be less specific for methanol as combinations of methanol and ethanol gave additives results. The Intoxilyzer 5000C is capable of detecting substances other than ethanol as an "interferent". (A)
Samenvatting