A study to investigate the ability of subjects with chronic lung diseases to provide evidential breath samples using the Lion Intoxilyzer (R) 6000 UKbreath alcohol testing device

The Lion Intoximeter(R) 3000 has been used for evidential breath testing in the U.K. for some years. Some individuals with lung diseases have difficul ty in providing evidential breath samples using the device. This study desc ribes an investigation that we have carried out on a newer instrument - the Lion Intoxilyzer(R) 6000UK - which is now in use in the U.K. The study was designed to investigate the ability of subjects with a variety of lung dis eases to provide evidential breath samples using this device. The 40 adult subjects investigated comprized 10 normal controls, 10 with asthma, 10 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 10 with restrictive lung disease. After baseline spirometry, subjects were given alcohol to drink, t he quantity based upon body weight. After a gap of at least 20 min, subject s were asked to provide evidential breath samples in accordance with the te st procedure built into the Lion Intoxilyzer 6000UK. The results showed tha t two asthmatic subjects,four with COPD and three with restrictive lung dis ease failed to provide evidential breath samples even after four attempts. Despite the device requiring a minimum sample volume of 1.2 1, eight of the nine subjects who failed had a forced vital capacity (FVC) of more than 1. 5 1. Seven of these nine subjects had a forced expiratory volume in 1 sec ( FEV1) of less than 1.0 1. In conclusion, this study has shown that some sub jects with lung diseases may have difficulty in providing evidential breath samples using the Lion Intoxilyzer 6000 UK.