What is a calibration standard used for in the Intoxilyzer 9000?

A calibration standard is critical for ensuring that the Intoxilyzer 9000 produces accurate and reliable results. Calibration standards are samples with known alcohol concentrations used to set the machine's accuracy before administering breath tests. When the Intoxilyzer 9000 is calibrated with these known standards, it can adjust and confirm that it's measuring blood alcohol content (BAC) correctly during actual testing.

If the calibration standard indicates that the machine is not functioning correctly, adjustments can be made to ensure reliable outcomes in future tests. In this way, calibration directly relates to the accuracy of test results, which is essential for enforcement and legal processes surrounding DUI testing.

The other options, while they may address various aspects of testing or machine operation, do not focus on the primary function of calibration standards in ensuring measurement accuracy. For instance, determining the type of breath sample submitted doesn't pertain to the calibration process, nor does evaluating the performance of the operator or minimizing environmental effects—these factors either distract from or are separate from the core purpose of establishing accurate machine performance through calibration.