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Раньше определить наличие алкоголя в крови мог только врач. Сегодня рынок просто ломится от приборов, с помощью которых любой желающий имеет возможность определить степень опьянения (собственного или окружающих). Особенно популярны эти устройства среди водителей, поскольку они позволяют определить, существует ли риск того, что после вчерашнего приёма энного количества алкоголя сегодня у вас в пути не случится неприятность в виде дорожного инспектора. И если показатели превышают допустимые, лучше оставить автомобиль в гараже, иначе крупных неприятностей в виде солидного штрафа не избежать. Впрочем, проблема выбора хорошего алкотестера остаётся актуальной – существует немало их разновидностей, ориентированных на разные целевые аудитории, обладающие различным принципом определения степени опьянения, разной точностью измерений и, конечно же, характеризующиеся большим разбросом цен. How to choose a breathalyzer, какие они бывают, как классифицируются – обо всём этом мы и попробуем рассказать в данном материале.

Tips on choosing a breathalyzer.

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How to choose a breathalyzer for personal use

If you are a driver who seeks to avoid unnecessary risk, you will definitely need a device that will help determine the level of alcohol in the blood just before the trip. What to look for when buying a device for personal use? There are some basic criteria:

1. Sensitivity. Of course, professional breathalysers are out of competition here. But do you need a device designed to carry out more than a dozen tests per day and costing much more? Here you need to think carefully whether you are ready to overpay for the fact that you can show the inspector real proof of your sobriety, if he still uses his device? Moreover, many personal models have quite acceptable indicators of sensitivity to alcohol. What of the fact that their testimony can not be taken into account as having legal force? You do need a means of self-control, and here the choice of quite good personal breathalyzers with good sensitivity is not so small. Suffice it to mention such devices as "Dingo E-010" or AlcoHunter Professional +.
2. Reliability. This parameter is directly correlated with quality, so do not trust noname instruments. Such breathalyzers originally from China often serve a short time or openly “lie”, so it makes no sense to purchase such devices. Much more attractive in terms of reliability are European, American and Russian sensors that have the appropriate certificates. According to this indicator, it is worth noting the French breathalyzer Ethyway, the Mark V device (USA) and the domestic Alcomer AlcoHunter Professional + (which, despite the frightening names, is the cheapest in this trio).
3. Price. It is clear that it is difficult to compete with Chinese devices. But even for not too frequent testing, they are of little use, because they have a frankly unimportant stability of the results. And if you use them regularly, the probability of their breakdown increases significantly. So the famous saying about the stingy here is also fair. Domestic models (for example, “Inspector”) at a democratic cost (both students and pensioners can afford them) are characterized by quite good quality.

Summarizing the above, it can be argued that the best choice of the breathalyzer for personal use in 2018 is the domestic model AlcoHunter Professional +, distinguished by an ideal ratio of reliability to informativity, which is almost the same as professional devices, which are much more. If sensitivity is a prevailing factor for you, we advise you to pay attention to the Russian device AKPE01.01-01 or to the “German” with the Alcotest 6810 printer. For those who put the cost at the center, the Inspector will be a real find.

Disposable Breathalyzer

These are devices whose cost is minimal. They are equated to the category of consumables and are intended for a single measurement of the alcohol content, differing in compact size. They are used exclusively for self-control, since the testimony of disposable devices not only have no legal force, but are also not sufficiently accurate. As a rule, such breathalyzers are plastic with a supported catalyst that reacts to the presence of alcohol vapors in exhaled air, which enter into an oxidative reaction with the active substance, changing the color of the strip.

Personal Breathalyzer

The choice of breathalyzers, acquired exclusively for self-monitoring, is simply huge. However, as in many other cases, a significant part of users pays the utmost attention to the cost of purchased devices, considering that quality and reliability with relatively rare use play a secondary importance. Meanwhile, the durability of the device is largely determined by the quality of the replacement part of the breathalyzer - its sensor. The cheapest models in this regard are not the best choice: any, even small breakage, makes its use impossible, since these gadgets (mostly Chinese-made) are not repairable. The same can be said about the sensor: after the complete exhaustion of the resource, such a device can be thrown away.

If you plan to use the breathalyzer relatively rarely - once every few weeks or a month, then perhaps buying a budget option will prove to be a reasonable step. But for daily personal use it is better to pay attention to the devices of the middle price class. At least, a significant part of such models, especially Russian-made, have a guarantee and a developed service network. However, among the rather expensive devices you can find those that, after using up the resource of the sensor element, will nowhere be restored or repaired. And since buyers usually overlook this point, they begin to feel sorry about the lack of service after the first breakdown. So, to solve the problem, what kind of breathalyzer to choose for individual use, first find out about the availability of a workshop in your city, where you repair a breathalyzer of the brand / model you like

However, there are also devices on sale, whose sensors can be changed independently. This is certainly very convenient, but such breathalyzers are more expensive than usual. It is also important to ask the seller how to blow through (i.e. the presence / absence of the mouthpiece). If you want to have the most accurate readings, it is better to opt for models that do not have a mouthpiece. Another pressing problem when choosing a breathalyzer is the risk of acquiring counterfeit products. "Gray" devices, as a rule, are much cheaper than the original. It is possible that they will tolerate their responsibilities tolerably, but note that the brand warranty in such cases should be forgotten. Moreover, repair shops often refuse to take such devices into operation.

Special breathalyzers

This class of devices for determining the concentration of alcohol includes devices whose technical and operational properties allow the use of breathalysers to perform a sufficiently large number of tests. They are considered universal devices, occupying an intermediate position between personal and professional devices, since they can also be used for mass checks for individual self-control. The scope of the use of special breathalyzers is quite extensive:

• drivers who want to check their condition before getting into the driver's seat;
• business owners (regardless of their field of activity) who wish to periodically or regularly check their employees;
• owners of entertainment establishments that provide their visitors with the opportunity to check the degree of intoxication for a certain fee (such breathalyzers can be equipped with a bill acceptor and used offline).

Professional breathalyzers

This category of devices is intended for mass use (from several to hundreds of studies per day). But even among professional breathalyzers you can find devices with a variety of characteristics (size, cost, functionality). In particular, the so-called club models are designed for installation in places where a mass check of people is required (DPS posts, companies / organizations passing through, garages of auto enterprises, etc.). Most professional devices are characterized by a decent working life and a fairly high measurement accuracy - up to hundredths of ppm. At the same time, many models are equipped with a built-in printer, allowing to display the data obtained as a result of testing on paper.

Before using, any professional device must pass a test confirming the accuracy of alcohol concentration determination stated by the manufacturer. The best professional breathalyzers are equipped with modern electrochemical sensors, which have a significantly higher resource and are designed for use at large industrial enterprises, medical institutions and law enforcement agencies, providing for conducting hundreds of tests / day. As a sensor, breathalyzers are divided into three large groups:

• semiconductor;
• electrochemical;
• spectrophotochemical (infrared).

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of these categories.

Semiconductor breathalyzer

Devices for determining the level of alcohol of this type belong to the budget class, therefore, most individual breathalysers have semiconductor sensors. Of course, low cost does not necessarily mean low quality. In this case, the reliability of such devices is not inferior to more expensive counterparts, while ensuring sufficient measurement accuracy for self-control. We list the distinctive features of testers with a semiconductor sensor:

• low cost due to low cost semiconductor components;
• accuracy sufficient for individual use (for models manufactured by well-known brands, it lies within 20%, which is an acceptable indicator for privately determining quantities per mille;
• relatively low speed associated with the need to warm up the sensor before use and cleaning - after taking measurements;
• lack of selectivity for alcohol (or rather, ethanol), as well as an increase in error when used outdoors (in hot weather or frost). Some models of semiconductor breathalyzers are equipped with systems to compensate for the influence of external climatic factors, but the cost of such devices will be appropriate;
• the need for frequent calibrations (2-4 times a year).

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Electrochemical Alcometers

The principle of operation of electrochemical devices is the oxidation of alcohol molecules present in the analyzed medium, which automatically increases the concentration of oxygen in the sample container. This is the chemical part of the procedure. The electrical part is that an increase in the oxygen content affects the electrical conductivity between the cathodes of the device. This allows you to diagnose with high accuracy the level of ethanol in the blood. Simple semiconductor sensors only record the presence of alcohol in exhaled air, without performing an accurate quantitative assessment. More sophisticated microprocessor devices allow for the analysis of alcohol concentration, but the accuracy of this method is inferior to the capabilities of electrochemical sensors. Features of breathalyzers with electrochemical sensors:

1. Very high accuracy. According to the results of comparative tests, the electrochemical breathalyzer of the average level has an accuracy twice as high as the best semiconductor models.
2. Excellent selectivity. The measurement results are virtually independent of external factors, since the breathalyzer sensor of this type is sensitive only to ethanol molecules.
3. Durability. Electrochemical devices can work for at least 5 years (an indicator that semiconductor breathalyzers can only dream of).
4. High measurement speed. Electrochemical sensors allow tens and hundreds of measurements per day, which makes them suitable for mass testing.
5. Efficiency. The device does not require pre-heating, saving battery power. On one charge you can make about a thousand measurements (for semiconductor devices 300 tests are the limit).

The average cost of devices of this type is 7–9 thousand rubles, which is substantially more than that of semiconductor analogues.

Spectrophotochemical Alcohol Testers

Considered the most modern type of device for determining the level of ethanol in the analyzed samples. The principle of operation of devices in this category is based on the ability of ethanol vapor to absorb light waves of the infrared spectrum, which is fixed by spectral sensors with high accuracy. Infrared breathalysers are distinguished by high selectivity to alcohol molecules and excellent measurement stability. However, factors such as test duration and ambient temperature can have a significant effect on test results. For this reason, spectrophotochemical Alcohol Testers are used primarily in the laboratory.

How to choose a breathalyzer

If you are planning to get Alcotester for the first time, special attention should be paid to the following important characteristics:

1. The presence / absence of the mouthpiece. This element of the breathalyzer allows you to adhere to rather strict requirements of sanitation, especially if the device works for a long time and with a large number of patients. The presence of the mouthpiece also has a positive effect on the accuracy of measurements, since it eliminates the ingress of saliva on the indicator part of the breathalyzer.
2. The type of sensor. If the device is purchased for personal use without high requirements for speed and accuracy of measurements, it does not make sense to pay many times more. Semiconductor breathalyzer has an error of about 25%, electrochemical varieties provide an error of measurement results at a level of 10%.
3. The presence of a certificate - this lack means that you will have to solve any problems with the device yourself. The certificate also guarantees the safety of the use of the device, and also confirms the accuracy of measurements declared by the manufacturer. In this case, the buyer gets the possibility of warranty service and free verification.
4. Resource of uninterrupted work: the less the service life declared by the manufacturer, the faster the breathalyzer will begin to produce distorted test results.

Additional functions

Choosing the best breathalyzer involves a thorough study of its functionality, which can be very non-poor. An important characteristic is the permeability of the device: if it is required to check a large number of people in a relatively short period of time (for example, at a checkpoint in a shift shift), breathalyzers should be selected with an appropriate permeability indicator. The possibility of outputting the results of testing on paper is not always required, and the cost of devices with an integrated printer is noticeably higher, so this nuance should also be taken into account.

Some models allow you to save the results of a single test or a series of measurements on a computer. This feature is realized by adding the appropriate functionality (Bluetooth or USB), which also affects the cost of the device. The presence of its own flash memory allows you to save the results of a certain number of measurements and on the breathalyzer, when filling the memory, the old data is deleted, freeing up space for new ones. There are models that can signal an incomplete expiration - a function that is certainly useful for taking measurements not for self-monitoring. If the client tries to deceive the device, imitating the exhalation, the sensor will record it, analyze the amount of incoming air, and issue a beep.

Another usefulness is the use of digital screens in Alcohol Testers. If the metric displays indicate the results of measurements using the arrow on the digital scale, electronic counterparts display the result in a more understandable digital form. The self-calibration function, which is present in some models of alcohol meters, allows the device to independently determine the degree of deterioration of the sensor and, if necessary, make the appropriate calibration with the output of the results of verification on the device screen. A specific function is the ability of the sensor to synchronize with a block of flash memory. In this case, when replacing the sensor, all factory settings relating to the calibration of the device will be automatically installed, without the need to manually enter them.

It is useful to recall the autonomous work of Alcohol Testers. If measurements are rarely carried out, battery powered devices will be perfectly acceptable. For professional use, it is better to choose models with a battery, and if conditions allow, then network appliances. Especially for drivers produce breathalysers, working from the onboard vehicle network.

How to check the performance of the breathalyzer

No one wants to buy a device advertised by the seller, which, when first launched at home, will be inoperative. If for several reasons it is impossible to perform a check in the store, we provide a brief instruction on how to do it yourself.

If you have consumed alcohol and want to check its concentration, you should wait about 20 minutes before starting the test. During this time, the number of ethanol molecules in the mouth stabilizes, which will affect the accuracy of the results. Otherwise, they will be inadequate and greatly exaggerated, not displaying the real picture and the degree of intoxication. The indicated amount of time is sufficient for the alcohol to more or less evenly spread through the blood throughout the body, including the lungs. Retesting, which will confirm the original result, should be carried out after 5 - 8 minutes. If you want to roughly determine the accuracy of the tester tester, do not do without parallel measurements on a professional device.