What happens if residual alcohol is present in the mouth before testing with the Intoxilyzer 9000?

Residual alcohol present in the mouth before testing with the Intoxilyzer 9000 can lead to inaccurate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings. This is because any alcohol in the mouth can be absorbed and measured during the testing process, which does not accurately reflect the amount of alcohol that is actually in the bloodstream. Intoxilyzer devices, including the 9000, are designed to measure the ethyl alcohol concentration from alveolar breath, giving a snapshot of impairment due to alcohol consumption. If there is residual alcohol, the device may detect this and incorrectly elevate the BAC reading, potentially resulting in false positives or inflated figures. This is why proper mouth alcohol detection protocols are crucial before conducting a breath test, ensuring that the results accurately reflect the person’s true level of intoxication.