Which method is used to ensure a deep lung sample and to prevent mouth alcohol contamination?

Which method is used to ensure a deep lung sample and to prevent mouth alcohol contamination?

• A. Visual inspection
• B. Infrared energy absorption monitoring
• C. Drying the sample
• D. Color change indicator

Answer: (B)

Ensuring a deep-lung, or alveolar, breath sample is essential for an accurate reading and to avoid contamination from mouth alcohol. Infrared energy absorption monitoring is built into the instrument to analyze the breath sample in real time. Ethanol has a specific infrared absorption signature, and the device uses this information to verify that the breath being measured comes from the end-tidal portion of the lungs rather than from residual mouth air. If the sample were from the mouth, the IR signal would indicate an improper sample, prompting a repeat or invalid result. Visual inspection can't reliably confirm alveolar air, and neither drying the sample nor a color-change indicator addresses sample origin or mouth alcohol contamination. That’s why infrared energy absorption monitoring is the method that ensures a deep lung sample and prevents mouth alcohol contamination.

Ensuring a deep-lung, or alveolar, breath sample is essential for an accurate reading and to avoid contamination from mouth alcohol. Infrared energy absorption monitoring is built into the instrument to analyze the breath sample in real time. Ethanol has a specific infrared absorption signature, and the device uses this information to verify that the breath being measured comes from the end-tidal portion of the lungs rather than from residual mouth air. If the sample were from the mouth, the IR signal would indicate an improper sample, prompting a repeat or invalid result. Visual inspection can't reliably confirm alveolar air, and neither drying the sample nor a color-change indicator addresses sample origin or mouth alcohol contamination. That’s why infrared energy absorption monitoring is the method that ensures a deep lung sample and prevents mouth alcohol contamination.