What is the purpose of the "AIR BLANK" step?

The "AIR BLANK" step plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the Intoxilyzer 9000 readings. This step involves purging the sample chamber with room air, effectively clearing out any residual substances that may have been present from previous tests. By introducing clean, uncontaminated air into the chamber, the device can establish a baseline reading of zero for alcohol concentration. This baseline is essential for accurately assessing subsequent breath samples, as it helps to eliminate false positives that could arise from lingering alcohol or other volatile substances within the testing apparatus.

This step, therefore, is vital to maintaining the integrity of the testing process and ensuring that the results obtained from the device reflect the actual alcohol levels in the breath sample provided by the individual being tested. Without this step, the accuracy of the blood alcohol content (BAC) readings could be compromised, leading to potential legal implications and misjudgments in a law enforcement context.