REPEATABILITY OF REPLICATE BREATH ALCOHOL MEASUREMENTS COLLECTED IN SHORT-TIME INTERVALS

The effect of short time interval sampling between replicate breath al cohol samples has been investigated. The results from 10 samples, whic h were collected approximately one minute apart from eight individuals and approximately 20 seconds apart from one individual, were evaluate d by simple linear regression. The regression coefficient (slope) and its standard error were evaluated for the presence of any trend in alc ohol depletion. Other statistical analyses were also included in this assessment. Ail nine subjects had linear regression coefficients for t he end-expiratory results that were not significantly different from z ero (P>0.05). In view of the respiratory physiology, there does not ap pear to be any measurable depletion of breath alcohol concentration du e to sampling intervals as short as one minute.