How should malfunction indicators be handled according to best practices?

Malfunction indicators are critical components of maintaining the integrity and reliability of intoxilyzer test results. According to best practices, these indicators must be documented and reported to ensure that any potential issues are addressed properly. This practice not only helps in maintaining the accuracy of the testing devices but also ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

When malfunction indicators are documented, it allows for a systematic approach to identify patterns or recurring issues over time, which can guide future maintenance or training. Reporting these indicators ensures that supervisors and maintenance personnel are aware of potential problems, facilitating timely troubleshooting and repair. This proactive approach safeguards the reliability of test results, thus enhancing the overall quality of the testing process.

In contrast, ignoring malfunction indicators can lead to inaccurate results and undermine the credibility of the testing program, leading to inappropriate legal repercussions. Similarly, bypassing or automatically calibrating without addressing underlying issues fails to resolve the potential problems, thereby risking the integrity of the evidence collected from such tests. Therefore, documenting and reporting malfunction indicators is essential for the effective management of intoxilyzer devices.