What medical condition can give a false positive in a breath test?

If you have acid reflux, GERD, heartburn or other medical conditions, you may be able to attack the validity of a breathalyzer test. Also, some medications increase the likelihood of receiving a false positive. Driving drunk is always a bad idea.

What besides alcohol can set off a breathalyzer?

Non-alcoholic beverages can also produce false results. This is because they contain small traces of alcohol. For example, mouthwashes and medicines like asthma medication, oral gels, over the counter medications, and breath sprays may have alcoholic ingredients that could procure an inaccurate reading.

What causes false breathalyzer results?

The acid produced in the stomach or esophagus from heartburn, acid reflux and gastrointestinal reflux disease can skew a breathalyzer test as well. Even breathing into the breathalyzer equipment with short breaths can produce inaccurate readings, leading to you unjustly being charged with a DUI.

What can cause a high breathalyzer reading?

Chewing gum and dental appliances may retain alcohol. Some asthma inhalers contain alcohol. Further, if a person throws up prior to taking a breath test, they may have elevated mouth alcohol levels because the contents of the stomach are aspirated into the breathalyzer.

What causes false positive interlock?

Gas at high levels can also lead to a false positive. Further, diabetics and those on certain high protein diets that raise acetone levels may experience a false positive too. As a result, the IID or PAM mistakes the residue of various products and the results of certain foods or diets as evidence of intoxication.

Can a BAC test be wrong?

Blood alcohol tests are very accurate in determining BAC levels, but in some cases, the results may be misleading. These cases may involve: People with diabetes or high blood ketones. People taking cough medicines or herbal supplements.

Can a breathalyzer give a false negative?

The results of the test may be used as evidence of an over-the-limit blood alcohol level, but many factors can affect the accuracy of a breath test. In fact, peer-reviewed studies have shown a 50 percent margin of error when comparing breathalyzer results to actual blood alcohol content.

What triggers the interlock device?

There are a number of things you may have just consumed that will cause you to fail the ignition interlock device breath test after eating. While the amounts of alcohol in these foods, drinks, or medications are not enough to impair your driving, the alcohol content can be high enough to cause a test failure.

Can hand sanitizer set off interlock?

The study found that some hand sanitizers may affect the breathalyzer reading, especially when being inappropriately used by a police officer. Applying a hand sanitizer before the breath test could produce a false positive result due to vaporization on the hand of the person holding the breathalyzer machine.

What can affect a BAC test?

It has been well-established that the following medications and substances can cause false positives for BAC in breath testing:

• Asthma medications.
• Nyquil and OTC medications with alcohol.
• Anbesol in Oral Gels.
• Mouthwash and Breath Spray.
• Fumes.
• Gastroesophageal Acid Reflux.
• Ketones.

What can affect a BAC blood test?

Mistakes that can produce unreliable blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) results include: Contamination of the person’s blood sample after it is collected, Switched or intermingled samples, or. Fermentation, which can cause the sample to produce alcohol inside the vial.

What can cause a false breathalyzer result?

However, a major cause of false breathalyzer results is acetone in the breath. Acetone in the breath is one cause of false blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results from breathalyzers.

Can acetone cause a false positive on a breathalyzer test?

In summary, acetone in the breath can cause false positive readings in alcohol-breath testing machines. Hypoglycemia can cause people to fail field sobriety tests. It’s important to keep impaired and drunk drivers off the road.

Can Gerd affect the results of a breathalyzer?

For instance, gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD) is one medical condition that can directly affect the results of your Breathalyzer test. In fact, it can create a false positive reading or a test reading error. Most Breathalyzer machines are designed to measure alcohol content in the lining of your lungs.

Can mints give you a false positive breathalyzer test?

Similarly, any mints, gum, cough drops, or tobacco may seem like they would freshen your breath but they can cause a false positive. Some brands have a sugar substitute like sorbitol or menthol, which triggers a false response.