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03/10/2008 by admin.
Breathalysers come in 2 basic sensor formats. Semiconductor (common in most models) and fuel cell (rare and expensive until recently)
Fuel cell breathalysers do in theory offer greater accuracy and selectivity for alcohol, but do not yet offer onsite sensor exchange, so unlike modern semi conductor breathalysers, you still have to send the complete breathalyser to a service centre, to be calibrated and serviced at regular intervals.
A fuel cell breathalyser will in the main keep its calibrated accuracy for longer than a semi conductor sensor, but no absolutes are given by manufacturers, so it is hard to be certain how often this will be. As a rough guide most semiconductor sensors will give between 300 and 700 tests. Fuel cells will normally be operated in critcal environments where calibration service is recommended at 3 monthly intervals (maximum 6 months for light users) so I guess it comes down to how many tests you are expecting to conduct.
Will a fuel cell breathalyser be considered accurate enough for evidential use ? > No.
Will a “home office approved” fuel cell be accurate for evidential use ? > No.
Will a breathalyser with a print-out be suitable for evidential use ? > No.
Explanation, simple unless the kit you buy and purchase has been calibrated under a home office approved scheme on the day of testing, the accuracy will in all cases be questioned and it is the onus of the testing agent to prove accuracy if presenting evidence, either to a court or tribunal.
So all these units should be operated as screening tools, to identify and quantify a suspected problem. In this role they can be invaluable, but where a problem is identified, a voluntary “real blood” alcohol assay, conducted in an accredited laboratory remains the gold standard evidential test
So would we recommend spending £400-600 on expensive home office approved fuel cell breathalysers for testers other than Police authorities ? > No. By all means consider fuel cell units, particularly if you aim to operate zero tolerance testing and need high accuracy and selectivity at the low levels of alcohol you’re looking to detect, but spend £100-150 tops (DA8000 fuel cell breathalyser) and for most of you, the top end semi conductor units like the AL7000 may be better.
Click here for more info on DA8000 fuel cell breathalyser
Posted in Fuel Cell Breathalyser, Breathalysers, Alcohol | No Comments »
03/10/2008 by admin.
Modern breathalyser design trends are all towards pre-calibrated, clip in clip out sensor units. These offer the very real advantage of never having to send the breathalyser for repeated calibration services, which for some very frequent testers could be as frequent as 2-3 months. Without service or replacement the accuracy of the breathalyser is lost over time and testing.
Our recommended best buy in this price range is the AL7000 digital breathalyser, sold in North America as the Alcomate Phoenix, European models are unbranded AL7000 breathalysers but the design and features are identical.
The AL7000 breathalyser features an integral Prism sensor, the most modern and reportedly most robust semi-conductor sensor on the market. The AL7000 also has the easiest to change sensor access of any breathalyser, making sensor changes, fast and simple via a door on the reverse of the breathalyser, (no screws or catches to release)
Accuracy is directed towards lower alcohol level detection with manufacturers quoted +/-0.005% BAC at 0.050% BAC reducing to +/- 0.01% BAC at 0.010%BAC. This makes it an ideal breathalyser for users expecting and wishing to measure in the 0.000 to 0.050 levels of alcohol in blood and requiring high confidence and accuracy within this band (current UK HSE level at time of writting is 0.020%BAC so this includes most employment testers)
The AL7000 also incorporates comprehensive flow checking technology to ensure readings are only displayed for adequate 5 second deep breath samples. (indicates FLO is not met)
Error and sensor testing are also in-built with the AL7000 indicating error codes specific for fast diagnostic correction. The AL7000 breathalyser also indicates to the user total numer of tests conducted and will instruct you when a replacement sensor is required.
The calibration stability of Prism sensors is the best of all semi-conductor sensors and spare sensors can be purchased with the digital breathalyser with confidence that they should not deteriorate prior to installation.
Other consumables include a choice of standard mouth piece tubes and professional uni-directional valve mouth pieces. The professional mouth pieces also help reduce contamination and blockage of the airflow, entending sensor life expectancy.
The AL7000 was introduced in 2007 and is expected to be in production for between 5 and 8 years. All consumables for this breathalyser should be available for at least 10 years.
Click here for more info on AL7000 Digital Breathalyser
The AL7000 is an NHS contract breathalyser.
Valuebreathalysers are pleased to accept NHS purchase orders directed to our parent “Access Diagnostic Tests UK Ltd” Falcon Lodge, Hexgreave Hall Business Park, Farnsfield, Newark, Notts NG22 8LS by post and on fax 01623 884 105
Common fixes
Display Err2 = sensor loose fix = reposition sensor
Display FLO = not blowing for a full 5 second period
Display Sen = replace sensor
Posted in AL7000, Breathalysers, Alcohol, Blogroll | No Comments »
03/10/2008 by admin.
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