Login / Register | 0 items - $ 0.00 CONTACT US

AlcoPro - Drug and Alcohol Testing Products & DOT Training

  • Products
  • Training
    • DOT Drug and Alcohol Training
    • Employer Substance Abuse Awareness Training
    • Hotels in Knoxville
    • Training Materials
    • DOT Regulations Knowledge Base
  • Knowledge Base
  • Repairs & Services
  • Resources
    • Catalogs
    • Knowledge Base
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Product Document Library
    • Drug Test Finder
    • Drink Wheel
    • Window of Detection Tool
    • Breath Alcohol Instrument Mouthpiece Chart
  • News
    • News
    • AlcoPro Blog
    • Sign Up – AlcoPro Blog
  • Customer Service
    • Order & Return Policy
    • Shipping Information
    • Apply for Tax Exempt Status
    • Satisfaction & Warranty Policy
    • Repair Services and Technical Support
    • Privacy Policy
    • Customer Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Quote Request
    • Catalog Request
    • Product Sample Request
    • BAC Wheel Request
    • Customer Reviews
  • About Us

800.227.9890

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedIn

Look! No Mouthpiece! – Passive Alcohol Testing

April 15, 2013 by Jennie Lee-Pace Leave a Comment

Look!  No Mouthpiece! –
Passive Alcohol Testing

 

When we think of alcohol testing we usually visualize someone blowing into a mouthpiece mounted on a breath testing device.  This typical method of alcohol testing is called a “direct” test.  Some breath test devices have the capability of conducting a different kind of test called a “passive” test.  When doing a passive alcohol test the individual does not blow into a mouthpiece, but instead blows towards the device. 

 

Why Passive Alcohol Testing?

Passive alcohol testing allows the operator to quickly screen large groups of people for the presence of alcohol.  High school dances, shelters, and substance abuse treatment group meetings. Individuals who have alcohol on their breath can be given a direct breath test to determine their intoxication level. 

 

Qualitative, Not Quantitative

Passive alcohol tests give qualitative results, or pass / fail results.  Because the devices are not able to precisely control the volume of breath being measured they are not able to accurately measure intoxication level.  They can, however, readily detect whether an individual has alcohol on their breath or not.  Some devices, such as the Alco-Sensor FST and the Alco-Sensor VXL, display results as “positive” or “negative.”  Other devices, such as thePAS IV flashlight, use a colored bar graph to indicate presence of alcohol at relative concentrations.

 

How do Passive Alcohol Testers Work?

The passive test devices manufactured by PAS International use a small pump that runs for several seconds, pulling air into the sensor.  When testing an individual, the operator instructs the subject to blow at the device as the operator starts the sampling pump.  The pump then pulls some of the subject’s breath into the device.

 

The Alco-Sensor FST and Alco-Sensor VXL use a passive sampling cup in place of a mouthpiece.  The cup concentrates a person’s breath into the breath sample port.  As the subject blows at the sample cup the force of the breath automatically triggers the Alco-Sensor to sample the breath. 

 

Advantages of Passive Alcohol Testing

    • No mouthpiece required:  PAS IV and PAS Sentry do not require mouthpieces.  Alco-Sensor FST and Alco-Sensor VXL utilize reusable passive sampling cups. 
    • Quick test sequence:  Alco-Sensor FST can perform a passive test every 10 seconds.  Because the subject does not touch their mouth to the sampling cup the operator does not need to change the cup between negative tests, which also speeds the test process.

 

  • Test Beverages for presence of alcohol:  If a liquid contains alcohol a small amount of alcohol is constantly evaporating from the liquid and can be detected by the passive device by testing the air just over the surface of the beverage. 
  • Test environment for presence of alcohol:  The PAS IV flashlight can be used to detect open alcoholic beverage containers in a car. 

 

AlcoPro carries the following instruments capable of performing passive alcohol testing.  Click on each device for more information.  

 

Alco-Sensor FST

Alco-Sensor VXL 

PAS IV flashlight

PAS Sentry

PAS vr

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ABOUT ALCOPRO

Since 1982, AlcoPro has supplied and manufactured the most accurate drug and alcohol testing instruments, kits, and supplies for professional use. We take pride in maintaining our industry-wide reputation for accuracy and quality as we help you—our top priority—perform alcohol and drug screenings and tests with greater precision and confidence.

Subscribe to Our Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

800.227.9890
Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on YouTube

Privacy Policy

© 2023 AlcoPro.
All Rights Reserved.

Custom Website Design & Development by VIEO Design